Big Cats of India

India · Rajasthan · 11 days

This is a special tour concentrating on the two iconic cats — the majestic Bengal Tiger and the graceful Indian Leopard. We visit three reserves with a good density of prey animals in the north-western state of Rajasthan, home to Chitals (Spotted Deer), Sambar Deer, Muntjacs, Langurs and Macaques. The forests also hold mongoose, giant squirrels, peacocks, rollers and kingfishers — and, if we are lucky, the elusive Indian Striped Hyena.

Our primary focus is photographing Bengal Tigers and the elegant Indian Leopard. The latter is slightly smaller and more delicate than its African counterpart, but no less striking. In most tiger reserves, leopard sightings are rare, as their movements are constrained by the presence of tigers. However, we visit a unique location where leopards thrive without this pressure, allowing for more frequent and relaxed encounters and exceptional photographic opportunities.

We stay at comfortable, quaint lodges and hotels. Meals consist of tasty local cuisine, usually served buffet style. We have five safaris at each location — one at dawn and another in the afternoon — plus another on the last morning.

As with all our tours, we travel in a genuinely small group, with no more than five guests on this trip. We work with highly experienced drivers to assist in tracking these magnificent big cats.