October 2, 2026

Big Cats to See in the Wild: 7 Expert-Led Safaris

Global Wildlife & Natural History Travel Tips & Inspiration

A tiger with orange fur and black stripes steps into a shallow stream, partially hidden by ferns on the left side of the image—a striking moment in this Big-Cat’s focused journey through the wild.

Go beyond the standard safari on WT journeys that get you up close and personal with some of the planet’s most magnificent animals. Whether you want to spot jaguars in Brazil’s wetlands, snow leopards in the Indian Himalayas, or cheetahs on the plains of Zimbabwe, we have a trip for you. And many of these journeys give back through contributions to innovative nonprofits, including the Snow Leopard Conservancy and the Cheetah Conservation Fund.

An adult cheetah lies on grass while three cheetah cubs play nearby, one cub jumping over the adult’s back—a spectacular scene for Big-Cat enthusiasts and those seeking Focused Journeys around the world.

Zimbabwe

Cheetahs

Our Trip Leaders have tracked several generations of Zimbabwe’s thriving cheetah population. On game drives across Hwange’s wildlife-rich plains, you’ll spot cheetahs known by name, like Cindy, who’s survived lion attacks, and the “Chiz Boys,” a local coalition.

Zimbabwe Safaris

A jaguar, the iconic big-cat, swims in a river while two people on a boat observe and take photos in the background. Lush green vegetation frames the scene—a perfect moment captured during one of the many focused journeys offered by Around the World expeditions.

Brazil’s Pantanal

Jaguars

Spot jaguars in the Pantanal in Brazil—you’ll see the largest cats in the New World and learn about the Jaguar Identification Project’s conservation efforts. Our dry season timing means you’ll see plenty of wildlife concentrated along riverbanks, all in the world’s prime location for spotting jaguars.

Jaguar Safari

A group of big cats rests and sits in dry grass, with a herd of zebras standing in the background.

Namibia

Lions

Namibia has a huge desert-adapted lion population, and it’s here that we meet with and see the work of the world’s leading desert lion researcher. Stay in mobile camps and track these apex predators on this once-in-a-lifetime conservation journey limited to just 6 guests.

Desert Lion Safari

A leopard with its mouth wide open, showing its teeth and tongue, sits among dry grass—a striking moment often encountered on wildlife tours or big cat journeys.

ZAMBIA

Leopards

Track leopards on foot in Zambia’s South Luangwa, the birthplace of the walking safari. Accompanied by our long-time Trip Leader, an armed game scout, and even a “tea-bearer,” hike this remote terrain with a thriving leopard population, following tracks and hearing distant roars.

Leopard Tracking Safari

A tiger walks through a forest clearing as photographers in a jeep observe and take pictures in the background, capturing the thrill of wildlife travel on unforgettable big-cat journeys.

Central India

Tigers

Discover one of the greatest comeback stories on Earth on our journey to four Project Tiger reserves deep in central India. Spot these majestic cats along with barasingha deer, leopards, and sloth bears on safari drives, and stay at boutique game lodges by night.

India Tiger Tour

A majestic Big-Cat, the snow leopard, leaps down a snowy slope with rocks and sparse vegetation visible under a clear blue sky—a breathtaking moment from nature’s grand journeys around the world.

ladakh, india

Snow Leopards

Look for elusive snow leopards in the high Himalayan altitudes of Ladakh. Our expert Trip Leaders know these snowy landscapes intimately and, with patience, can spot these magnificent creatures. We stay in a cozy wildlife lodge in the heart of this leopard-dense area.

Snow Leopard Safari

A wild puma, one of the world’s most revered big-cats, stands in grassy terrain with snow-capped mountain peaks and dramatic rocky cliffs in the background under a partly cloudy sky—a striking moment for those who seek focused journeys around the world.

torres del paine, chile

Pumas

Track pumas among the soaring, glacier-carved landscapes of Chile’s Torres del Paine and enjoy the expertise of José Wayaja, the “Puma Man,” son of a legendary park ranger. This unique trip starts with a 4-night cruise among Tierra del Fuego’s wild fjords and glaciers.

Puma Tracking Tour

Two lion cubs, symbols of Big Cat majesty, sit close together in tall grass and wildflowers, looking alert in a sunlit field—a perfect moment on Wildlife Journeys through untamed landscapes.

Protecting the Cats & Their Habitats

We donate a portion of the proceeds from our journeys to some of the world’s leading big cat conservation organizations, including Panthera, the Snow Leopard Conservancy, TOFTigers, ReWilding Chile/Tompkins Conservation, the Cheetah Conservation Fund through the Wildlife Conservation Network, AfriCat, the Desert Lion Conservation Project, the Jaguar Identification Project, and Friends of Serengeti.

Frequently Asked Questions

The widely recognized seven mains types of big cats are lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, snow leopards, cougars, and cheetahs.

While big cats are found all over the world, most big cats are in Africa, Asia, South America, and Central America.

The biggest wild cat in the world is the Siberian tiger, which lives primarily in the forests of eastern Russia.

The best places to see big cats in Africa are Kenya’s Masai Mara, Tanzania’s Serengeti, South Africa’s Kruger, and Zambia’s South Luangwa.

The small black-footed cat is the deadliest wild cat in terms of hunting success rate. Big cats like lions or tigers are the deadliest to humans, though guests on safaris are kept safe from these predators.