Wildlife guide
This wildlife travel guide is meant to be like a trailer for the new Attenborough series. Because we also have individual travel guides for more specific wildlife holidays, such as our safaris, bear watching and whale watching.
Best time to go on a big cat safari
The best time to go on a big cat safari depends entirely on which cats you want to see and when. Trips to see Siberian tigers in Russia and snow leopards in the Himalayas run only in the bitterly cold winter months. The parched dry season from March to June is prime time for watching tigers and leopards in India and Sri Lanka, when vegetation is thinner and the animals need to range further afield in search of water sources. As there is a broad mix of small group and tailor made tours available you have plenty of flexibility on your travel dates. Remember, you might have the best guide in the reserve and the very latest technology to assist you, but if the cats don’t feel like making an appearance there’s little you can do. But travelling at just the right time is a way to make your own luck.
Our Big cat safaris Holidays
South Africa safari holiday, 14 days
Award winning safari in South Africa
From
£3995
14 days
ex flights
Ten day wildlife safari, South Africa
Award winning wildlife safaris in South Africa
From
£2695 to £2985
10 days
ex flights
Tiger tour in India, land of the Tiger tour
Wildlife tour through India
From
£3849 to £4449
17 days
inc UK flights
Tadoba National park tiger safari, India
Tadoba the best tiger reserve of India
From
£1200 to £1850
8 days
ex flights
Wildlife holiday in Sri Lanka, private departure
Wildlife holiday to see Sri Lanka's 'Big Four'
From
£2095
14 days
ex flights
Brazil wildlife tour, jaguars and waterfalls
Jaguar spotting 100% success rate, Iguacu waterfalls & Rio.
From
£5895
16 days
inc UK flights
Big cat safaris, month by month
Our top Big cat safaris Holiday
South Africa safari holiday, 14 days
Award winning safari in South Africa
From
£3995
14 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2023: 2 Feb, 9 Feb, 16 Feb, 23 Feb, 2 Mar, 9 Mar, 16 Mar, 23 Mar, 30 Mar, 6 Apr, 13 Apr, 20 Apr, 27 Apr, 4 May, 11 May, 18 May, 25 May, 1 Jun, 8 Jun, 15 Jun, 22 Jun, 29 Jun, 6 Jul, 13 Jul, 20 Jul, 27 Jul, 3 Aug, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 31 Aug, 7 Sep, 14 Sep, 21 Sep, 28 Sep, 5 Oct, 12 Oct, 19 Oct, 26 Oct, 2 Nov
2023: 2 Feb, 9 Feb, 16 Feb, 23 Feb, 2 Mar, 9 Mar, 16 Mar, 23 Mar, 30 Mar, 6 Apr, 13 Apr, 20 Apr, 27 Apr, 4 May, 11 May, 18 May, 25 May, 1 Jun, 8 Jun, 15 Jun, 22 Jun, 29 Jun, 6 Jul, 13 Jul, 20 Jul, 27 Jul, 3 Aug, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 31 Aug, 7 Sep, 14 Sep, 21 Sep, 28 Sep, 5 Oct, 12 Oct, 19 Oct, 26 Oct, 2 Nov
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Big cat safaris or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
01273 823 700
Call us tomorrow after 9am
Calling from outside the UK
Martin Royle, director of our supplier Royle Safaris, on watching tigers and leopards in Russia:
“In terms of our Russian trips the most common questions we’re asked by people before travel are nearly always about the weather and what to bring. Naturally I provide a comprehensive kit list to that enquiry, but it is basically warm layers (lots of layers). The temperatures in Russia tend to be between -5°C and -30°C with snowfall regular. There are no pathways, the trails are covered in snow (sometimes 2-3ft deep) and there are often frozen streams to cross to get to and from the hides, so you need to be prepared for that.”
“In terms of our Russian trips the most common questions we’re asked by people before travel are nearly always about the weather and what to bring. Naturally I provide a comprehensive kit list to that enquiry, but it is basically warm layers (lots of layers). The temperatures in Russia tend to be between -5°C and -30°C with snowfall regular. There are no pathways, the trails are covered in snow (sometimes 2-3ft deep) and there are often frozen streams to cross to get to and from the hides, so you need to be prepared for that.”
More about Big cat safaris
Our guide to big cat safaris around the world takes you from the frozen wildernesses of Russia and Lapland to the jungles of India and Borneo, via the plains of Africa and the marshlands of Pantanal.
Our big cat safaris map and highlights demonstrate the variety of locations you can see these elusive creatures in the wild, from Russia to Borneo and India, while an interactive map reveals where to see big cats around the world.
On big cat safaris in South Africa you’ll most likely catch the lions lounging in the shade but the chance of seeing them on the hunt will be enough to get you bounding into the jeep every evening.
Big cat safaris in the Pantanal focus on the Cuiabá riverbanks from Porto Jofre because cruising by boat affords superb opportunities to witness jaguars on the hunt or at their leisure in their preferred habitat.
India has more tigers in the wild than anywhere else, so big cat safaris in India typically take you around a series of national parks to maximise your chances of observing them as they emerge from the jungle.
Yala National Park is the key destination that big cat safaris in Sri Lanka focus on, as it's home to a higher concentration of leopards per square kilometre than anywhere else on the planet.
Big cat safaris in Russia are a truly spectacular experience, and a fantastic opportunity for those with the patience to wait on the appearance of Siberian tigers and Amur leopards, offering exclusive access to hides in prime locations.
Big cat safaris in Borneo are accompanied by naturalist guides and zoologists to help you track down nocturnal, tree-climbing clouded leopards and a host of other incredible creatures along the way.
Explore a true wilderness in company of expert naturalists and guides with snow leopard tracking holidays in the Himalayas, as you search the mountains for one of the world’s rarest and most majestic big cats.
Big cats are in urgent need of more responsible tourism - on this page we discuss some of the current issues around big cat conservation and how by choosing the right kind of trip, you make a difference to their survival.
More relevant guides
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