Safari Crafters – Big Cats of India

Big Cats of India

A rare, four-week odyssey through India’s most powerful wilderness realms, one of the only places on Earth where such an extraordinary constellation of big cats can be experienced in a single, seamless journey. Feel the thin, silent air of the high Himalayas as Snow Leopards move like ghosts across snowbound ridgelines. Enter ancient forests where Tigers command shadow and light, and enter weathered granite landscapes where Leopards move stealthily. Traverse the sunlit plains that shelter the last Asiatic Lions in their only natural home. Guided by expert naturalists and supported by effortless logistics, this all-inclusive expedition weaves exceptional wildlife photography, over 400 bird species, and refined wilderness stays into an experience that is intimate, elemental, and profoundly unforgettable.

Highlights

Explore four distinct wilderness habitats on this immersive four-week journey, tracking Snow Leopards, Bengal Tigers, Asiatic Lions, and Indian Leopards, alongside rich mammalian diversity and over 400 bird species. Enjoy thoughtfully curated accommodations ranging from intimate boutique lodges to refined luxury retreats, seamless travel with optional company-owned jet transfers, and the flexibility to extend your journey to cultural destinations such as Jaipur, Agra, or Varanasi. This is a fully customisable, all-inclusive safari designed for depth, comfort, and exclusivity.

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1: Delhi
Days 2–8: Ladakh – Snow Leopard Region
Days 10–14: Ranthambhore National Park
Days 14–17: Jawai – Leopard Hills
Days 17–20: Gir – Asiatic Lions & Return to Delhi

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Detailed itinerary

Arrive in India’s bustling capital, where ancient heritage blends with contemporary life. Settle into your hotel, meet your expedition team, and prepare for an unforgettable multi-habitat wildlife journey across India.

Fly into the stark, high-altitude landscapes of Ladakh, the Himalayan kingdom where Snow Leopards reign unseen across rocky ridgelines and frozen valleys. Stay in comfortable mountain lodges and venture out each day with seasoned trackers who scan rugged cliffs for signs of the “Grey Ghost.” Along the way, encounter Himalayan Blue Sheep, Red Foxes, soaring eagles, and the raw silence of the trans-Himalayan wilderness.

Leave the mountains behind for the warm forests of Ranthambhore, one of the world’s premier destinations for Tiger photography. Here, tigers stride past ancient temples and fort walls rising from lakes and forests. Morning and evening safaris carry you through diverse landscapes where sambars graze, crocodiles bask, and birdlife thrives in golden light.

Continue overland to Jawai, a dramatic landscape shaped by volcanic granite where Leopards coexist peacefully with local shepherds. The region’s open terrain and unique rock formations create exceptional photographic conditions. Enjoy tranquil mornings watching leopards emerge from cave dwellings and evenings glowing with pink and amber desert light.

Arrive in Gir, the final refuge of the Asiatic Lion—a species of ancient lineage. Safari through teak forests and open scrublands where these majestic cats roam freely, offering rare and unforgettable encounters. Your journey concludes with a flight back to Delhi, carrying with you memories of India’s four magnificent big-cat domains.

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The expedition begins in Delhi, before the world recedes into the high Himalayas of Ladakh. Above 3,500 metres, survival feels elemental. In one of the Snow Leopard’s most critical remaining ranges, where fewer than 7,000 survive globally, tracking becomes an act of deep attention, guided by wind, snow, and stone.

From this silence, the journey descends into Ranthambhore National Park, where Bengal Tigers move through forests shaped by centuries of royal history, ancient forts, and reflective lakes. In Jawai, part of the ancient Aravalli range formed over hundreds of millions of years, Leopards roam freely beyond park boundaries, protected through rare coexistence with the Rabari community. The journey concludes in Gir National Park, the last refuge of the Asiatic Lion, revived from fewer than 20 individuals a century ago to a population of over 800 today.

Seamless logistics, discreet luxury lodges, and optional private aviation allow for unhurried immersion. Extensions to the Taj Mahal, Jaipur, or Varanasi complete a journey defined by depth, place, and meaning.

Gallery

Craft Your Safari

At Safari Crafters, we are children of nature first. Years spent immersed in forests and wild habitats across the world have shaped our understanding of landscapes, seasons, and the subtle rhythms that govern life in the wild. Awed continually by nature’s grandeur, we bring together this depth of experience to create one of the most versatile and thoughtfully led safari companies from the Indian subcontinent.

Our tour leaders, naturalists, and guides are among the finest allies one can have on a journey into the wild. We work in close partnership with the most trusted and respected names in the industry, ensuring every experience is guided with integrity, expertise, and care.