Drawing travellers to remote wildlife lodges the world over, encounters with Big Cats are the ultimate objective of many safaris and wildlife holidays. Endlessly alluring for the feline characteristics that seem so tantalisingly similar to our domesticated furry friends, these majestic creatures tread elusively through some of planet earth’s most wild and untamed landscapes.
Apex predators in their ecosystems, elegant and transfixing, here’s how to see seven Big Cats in ultimate style with Humboldt:
Best for Lions
Angama Mara, Maasai Mara, Kenya
Let’s start with the easiest, shall we? Unlike many Big Cats who are notoriously elusive, lions, who live in large social groups called prides, are less shy than most and thus, much easier to see!
The Maasai Mara in Kenya is famous for particularly large lion prides, often consisting of multiple lionesses, cubs, and dominant males, who work together to hunt and protect their patch of territory. Well-adapted to the natural patterns of savannah life, these lions lounge in the gentle shade of acacia trees to escape brutal daytime heat and undertake most of their hunting activity in the cooler early hours or evenings. Feeding on the abundant herds of wildebeest, antelope and zebra that pass through the wider Serengeti-Mara region, the Maasai Mara reserve boasts one of the healthiest populations of lions in all of Africa.
Our favourite lodge for lion-spotting is Angama Mara, with ‘angama’ meaning ‘suspended in mid-air’ in the local Swahili dialect. Located high above the floor of the stunning Great Rift Valley, it’s a fitting name for this ultra-luxe eco-lodge which overlooks the majestic Mara from its own secluded escarpment. With each of the finely appointed tented suites designed with 11-metre floor-to-ceiling windows, guests can take advantage of the lodge’s unique sweeping vistas without even getting out of bed. With common areas also strategically perched on the rockface, Angama Mara’s lucky guests can enjoy one of the finest sundowner views going, luxuriating in the soft light of the savannah sunset from above with a handcrafted cocktail in hand.
Angama Mara’s location at the heart of the Mara’s wildlife crossroads makes it an extraordinary destination for safari experiences. Offering daily game drives into the Maasai Mara National Reserve, visitors who stay between July and October can witness the world-famous Great Migration where enormous numbers of wildebeest and zebra cross from the Tanzanian Serengeti in search of greener pasture. Beyond diverse wildlife, Angama Mara’s menu of exclusive activities includes once-in-a-lifetime experiences like hot air balloon rides over the Mara at sunrise and thoughtful cultural interactions with the local Maasai community, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the rich heritage of the region.
How to Do It: Using our Great Migration itinerary for inspiration, we can tailor a lion-spotting trip entirely to your interests. We recommend perhaps combining a safari on the Mara with a stay in one of Kenya’s lesser-visited wildlife reserves, such as Tsavo, Laikipia or Samburu, for a greater diversity of wildlife.
Or … You could combine your lion-seeking wildlife tour with some downtime on Kenya’s stunning Indian Ocean coastline. Grab a villa at Chale Island Resort and reminisce about your safari experience on paradisiacal white sand beaches.
Best for Jaguars
Caiman Eco-Lodge, the Pantanal, Brazil
Jaguars are a particularly beautiful cat. With graceful symmetrical features and stocky, spotted bodies, these powerful cats are Latin America’s apex predator. Known for their shyness, though jaguars are endemic in many parts of Latin America, there are only a handful of places that can near-guarantee a sighting.
The Brazilian Pantanal is one of those places.
Unlike in forested regions in which jaguars can very successfully hide from the humans who come seeking to glimpse them, the jaguars of the Pantanal wetlands have their movements governed by the natural cycles of rising and falling water levels in the region. In the dry season, when water levels in the wetlands hit their lowest, jaguars are drawn out from the vegetation in search of food and water, making them much easier to spot.
Our go-to recommendation for jaguar spotting is Caiman. Located on a 53,000-hectare ranch in the Pantanal wetlands of Mato Grosso do Sul, Refugio Ecologico Caiman is a working cattle farm, an important centre for nature conservation projects, and home to the region’s most exclusive ecolodges. Established as a pioneering eco-tourism project in 1985, Caiman has consistently been at the forefront of efforts to protect the wildlife of the area while offering discerning travellers the best accommodation experiences possible in this remote wilderness. Guests at Caiman benefit from the lodge’s world-leading Oncafari jaguar conservation project, led by an extraordinary team of experts dedicated to supporting and increasing the local jaguar population through tracking initiatives, habitat improvement, and partnerships with farming communities in the region.
How to Do It: Book early to secure accommodation at Caiman during peak jaguar season (June-October) and be sure to include a full day with the Oncafari team in your itinerary. For true wildlife lovers, we’d suggest combining a Pantanal experience with a stay in another of Brazil’s unique ecological biomes. High-end lodges in the Amazon rainforest such as Anavilhanas and Cristalino will allow you to combine your large-mammal sightings in the Pantanal with the dazzling array of bird, insect, amphibian and monkey species you’re likely to encounter in the jungle.
Or … If the internal flights necessary to navigate Brazil’s enormous size don’t appeal, the Colombian llanos to the southeast of Bogota are slightly easier to access. These seasonal floodplains in the Orinoco basin function much the same as the Pantanal, with the dry season drawing large mammals out into the open. Though accommodation is much simpler here, many of the eco-lodges in this region have participated in conservation projects to increase the populations of jaguars, giant anteaters, anaconda and Orinoco crocodiles. Your jaguar sighting isn’t quite as likely here, but the llanos still boast serious wildlife credentials and combine well with the cultural experiences on offer elsewhere in Colombia.
Best for Tigers
Sujan Sher Bagh, Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India
Instantly recognisable by its iconic coat of reddish-orange and dark stripes, the tiger is the largest wild cat in the world. Powerful, muscular and exquisitely camouflaged, these solitary apex predators can be found in diverse habitats across Asia, with specific subspecies having evolved to excel in their own unique surroundings. Now restricted to around just 6% of its historical range due to habitat loss, one of the best places to go to see these majestic beasts is the Ranthambore National Park in India.
Famed for its high population of Royal Bengal tigers, this former royal hunting ground is now one of the largest national parks in India and is critical for preserving the local tiger population. Here, the kings of the jungle roam amidst dry deciduous forests and the historic ruins of abandoned 10th century fortresses, making for a truly unique safari experience. If you can stand the heat, the hotter months of May and June cause tigers to gather frequently around restricted water sources, improving your chances of seeing these incredible cats in the wild.
Our pick in this region is Sujan Sher Bagh, a luxurious camp that transports you to the glamorous 1920s, evoking the romance of living under canvas whilst on safari in India’s most celebrated nature reserve. Offering just 12 finely appointed tented suites, guests of Sujan Sher Bagh benefit from a guiding team with a combined 150 years of experience in the reserve, and a staff trained to anticipate every need before it is needed.
How to Do It: Combine your luxurious safari in Rathambore with a curated itinerary of Rajasthan’s cultural and historic highlights. Enjoy the shimmering lake palaces of Udaipur, the stoic fortresses and temples of Jodhpur & Jaipur, before heading home after an unforgettable journey of discovery. Need some inspiration? Our Offbeat Rajasthan itinerary might be a good place to begin.
Or … For a completely wildlife-focused itinerary, combine tiger tracking with a safari lodge in leopard hotspots, like Sujan Jawai.
Best for Leopards
Londolozi Tree Camp, Sabi Sands, South Africa
These strong, stealthy cats are known for their dotted coats and serious climbing skills. Spread across parts of Africa and Asia, they spend most of their time resting high up in trees, surveying their domains with a bird’s eye view. Like many other cat species, leopards are surprisingly adaptable and have adapted to survive in jungles and mountains as well as they can in deserts and savannahs.
Our favourite place to see leopards is Sabi Sands. Adjacent to the world-renowned Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sands Game Reserve is a private sanctuary famed for its unparalleled wildlife encounters and ultra-luxurious lodges. Particularly famed for its leopard population, these elusive cats are often spotted here at close range, making it a dream destination for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts alike.
The Londolozi Tree Camp is a sanctuary of elegance and simplicity that allows guests to experience a leopard’s perspective on its magical natural surroundings. A lodge built with natural materials into the canopy of the trees, guests can spend lazy afternoons on the Tree Camp deck, champagne in hand, as elephants and other large game passes by in the river below. With just six plush suites, this lodge is also available to book for exclusive use, for an added level of blissful seclusion amongst nature.
How to Do It: For an unparalleled safari experience in South Africa, explore Sabi Sands, the Kalahari Desert and hidden gem wildlife destinations like the Madikwe Reserve in a single itinerary. With different conservation biases, combining multiple reserves makes for the ultimate African game-viewing experience.
Best for Pumas
Awasi Patagonia, Torres del Paine, Chile
Compact, graceful, and notoriously shy, the puma (or cougar, or mountain lion) is Patagonia’s most sought-after wildlife sighting. Technically the largest of the small cats rather than a ‘Big Cat’ proper, these slight creatures have powerful hind legs and long tails, perfect for ambushing prey and giving high speed chase to the unfortunate creatures trying to get away from it!
By far the planet’s most adaptable cat species, the puma can be found across the breadth of the Americas, from the Yukon in Alaska all the way south to the frosted peaks of Tierra del Fuego. Found in almost every country in North, Central and South America, adapting to diverse eco-zones, it’s astonishing that the wide-ranging puma can still be so incredibly difficult to spot.
Often driven into hiding by human activity nearby, the sparsely populated and breath-takingly beautiful wildernesses of Patagonia are your best bet for catching sight of this elusive cat. In the winter months between May and August, when most Patagonian tourism comes to a halt, the pumas seek shelter from the snow in the warmth of the lower river valleys, following the herds of guanaco that they prey on for sustenance. With the winter vegetation sparser too, the winter months bring increased visibility to the puma’s hillside hideaways.
For an unparalleled experience of the Patagonian wilderness and your best chance to spot a Puma, we recommend heading to Awasi Patagonia in southern Chile. For the first time in 2027, Awasi will remain open all year round, meaning that the lodge’s exceptional experience of the stunning Torres del Paine National Park will be available during the puma winter high season. Unique to this lodge, each sleek and luxurious Awasi villa comes with the peerless flexibility of having your own dedicated 4×4 vehicle and private guide during your stay, meaning that each day’s activities are tailored entirely to your specific needs. Take advantage of this freedom and your guide’s expertise to curate a programme of adventures that bring you into the heart of the puma’s habitat and give you the best chance going of getting to encounter one in the wild.
How to Do It: Combine a puma-spotting stay at Awasi in Torres del Paine with some exploration of Argentine Patagonia on the other side of the border. Explore the highlights of the Argentine side using our Argentine Patagonia itinerary as a starting point and allow us to plan a magnificent luxury odyssey for you through this extreme and untamed wilderness.
Or … Mix and match! A taste of the Awasi experience isn’t limited to Patagonia alone. You could combine the frosty slopes of Awasi Patagonia with the copper canyons of Awasi Atacama in northern Chile, or the steamy tropical forests of Awasi Iguazu. For relaxation at the end of your trip, head to Awasi Mendoza for a cosy hideaway in the heart of Argentine wine country, or to Awasi Santa Catarina to wind up on the golden beaches of southern Brazil. Offering truly unparallel service across Latin America’s varied biomes, combining two or more Awasi lodges is the perfect way to experience the landscapes, wildlife and people of this continent at its very best.
Best for Snow Leopards
Rumbak Lodge, Hemis National Park, Himalayas, India
The most secretive and enigmatic of all the larger cat species, sadly there is no particular secret for sighting snow leopards other than being patient and crossing your fingers! Clinging to the impossibly steep slopes of Asia’s most inhospitable mountain ranges, snow leopards have evolved to survive in some of the harshest conditions on earth. Their thick white-grey coats, designed to protect them from fierce winds and icy temperatures, make them hard to spot against their rocky backdrops, so much so that they are often nicknamed the ‘ghosts of the mountains’.
The best place to head for a chance of glimpsing these elegant and elusive cats is the Indian Himalayas where a number of specialised luxury lodges working with expert guides give guests as many opportunities as possible to enjoy the unique wildlife of this dramatic region. For those willing to brave the extremes in search of the Himalaya’s most sought-after residents, Rumbak Lodge is our recommendation.
Nestled in the remote wilderness of Ladakh, the Rumbak Wildlife Lodge is located on the periphery of Hemis National Park, deep within the heart of snow leopard territory. Despite its secluded position, Rumbak doesn’t compromise on modern comforts and seamlessly blends a tasteful luxury with the raw beauty of the Ladakhi landscape, offering guests a cosy and welcoming retreat amidst the rugged terrain. What sets this lodge apart is its unwavering commitment to coexisting harmoniously with the Himalayan environment, implementing sustainable practices that protect the fragile ecosystem surrounding it, and the critically endangered species within.
Aside from the possibility of snow leopards, guests at Rumbak might be lucky enough to see wild yaks, Tibetan wolves, Pallas cats, the Himalayan brown bear, marmots, pika and a huge variety of bird species.
How to Do It: Luckily, we’ve thought this all through for you already! Use our Chasing the Snow Leopards itinerary as inspiration and allow us to tailor it into your perfect trip.
Or … Combine the mountainous Ladakh with the dry forests of Rajasthan and see if you can get lucky observing snow leopards and tigers on a single magical journey.
Best for Cheetahs
Tswalu, The Motse, Kalahari, South Africa
The fastest land mammal alive, the slender cheetah lives in small, broken groups across Africa. With perhaps fewer than 8000 individuals left in the wild, the cheetah is one of the most vulnerable of the Big Cat species, due mostly to habitat loss, conflict with humans, and poor genetic diversity that causes high cub mortality and low rates of successful reproduction.
This said, concerted conservation efforts across southern Africa in particular have helped to safeguard some of the most concentrated communities. The Kalahari Desert, an arid, sandy savannah that spreads across Botswana, eastern Namibia and South Africa’s Northern Cape, boasts one of the densest populations of these stately predators and is easily visited as part of a trip to any of these three countries.
Our pick for cheetah spotting is the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve in South Africa. Offering three exquisite accommodation options: the Tarkuni private homestead, the Motse safari camp, and the Loapi safari villas, this lovingly protected reserve is one of the few places where cheetah numbers are on the increase. Boasting exceptional guides, delicious seasonal cuisine, and an incredible attention to detail in terms of service, the Tswalu properties make for an unforgettable stay.
How to Do It: Get inspired by our Classic South Africa itinerary and tack your cheetah-spotting safari stay onto an exploration of Cape Town and the South African winelands. Enjoy sweeping views over Bantry Bay from Ellerman House in Cape Town and while away hours cycling through scenic vineyards from the comfort of the sophisticated Delaire-Graff estate.
So, there we are – happy big cat spotting! For advice on planning your perfect wildlife getaway, wherever in the world you’re looking to go, contact one of our travel specialists today. Enquire here, or give our team a call on UK +44 (0)1603 340680 / US (+1) 929 256 6421
