2 min summary Best time to go Map & highlights South Africa India Jaguars in the Pantanal Siberian Tigers & Amur Leopards Leopards in Sri Lanka Clouded Leopards in Borneo Snow Leopards in Ladakh Tips Responsible tourism

Best time to go on a big cat safari

It can be a little difficult to pin down the absolute best time to go on a big cat safari given that they tend to keep to their own schedules. But to narrow down your chances of success, read on to discover when to travel depending on where you’re headed and what species of big cat you hope to see.

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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.

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Big cat safaris, month by month

From November to March, snow leopards in the Himalayas are forced to descend to lower altitudes in search of prey such as ibex and bharal, and this is about the only time they can be seen. Siberian tigers and Amur leopards in Russia are similarly forced to travel further to try and find food in winter. Placement of deer carcasses near hides attracts them, and their tracks can often be seen clearly in thick snow. If you don’t mind chilly mornings, then December and January are great months to admire the tigers in the national parks around India’s Madhya Pradesh, before the temperatures begin to get uncomfortably hot from March onwards. February to June is the dry season in Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park, and with water levels lower, leopards can frequently be seen around the lagoons where their prey gathers to drink. Pumas can be seen in Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park at any time of year, but April and May are especially lovely times for photographers to visit for the autumnal scenery, crisp air and fewer crowds. The diverse wildlife of Kruger National Park is also on display throughout the year but is especially prolific during the July to September dry season. There is thin vegetation, and prey animals congregating around waterholes often leads to dramatic confrontations with lions. July also marks the start of dry season in Brazil’s marshy Pantanal region, continuing through to around November. Jaguars are often seen on the riverbanks over this period and you can get around on foot or horseback in the southern Pantanal. From early September into October much of Yala National Park in Sri Lanka is closed to visitors. Safaris to see clouded leopards in Malaysian Borneo’s Sabah state are best done in the short dry season between August and September, though even then rainfall is far from unlikely. Expect high humidity still, and temperatures ranging from 27°C to 32°C.

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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.”

More about Big cat safaris

Big cat safari holidays guide

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.

Where to see big cats

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.

Big cat safaris in South Africa

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.

Jaguar safaris in the Pantanal

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.

Big cat safaris in India

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.

Leopard safaris in Sri Lanka

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.

Siberian tiger & Amur leopard safaris

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.

Clouded leopard safaris in Borneo

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.

Snow leopard tracking holidays in Ladakh

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.

Tips for big cat safaris

We’ve tapped up some of our top specialist operators to learn their tips for big cat safaris in destinations around the world - along with their expertise, travelling at the right time and trained guides, you stand a great chance.

Responsible tourism on big cat safaris

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.

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Written by Rob Perkins

Best time to go on a big cat safari