In addition to snow leopards, which should definitely be on every wildlife enthusiast’s “to see” list, the following parks and reserves in India and Sri Lanka offer the best wildlife sightings for the big felines

tigers

India is indeed the land of the tiger, with some magnificent tiger reserves found from the foothills of the Himalayas to reserves in the deep south.

nagar hole Near Mysore there is a splendid wildlife reserve and one of the best tiger habitats in Asia. There are some superb lodges and luxury camps here and Nagarhole fits in well with a tour of South India and Kerala.

The famous tiger reserves of central India like Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench and Tadoba they are still extremely rewarding in terms of tiger sightings, but they are busy for this very reason. Kanha remains a favorite with two exceptional camps, Shergarh and Flame of the Forest, and excellent guides.

ballpoint (see BBC series: Tiger: Spy in the Jungle) has a delightful new camp called Jamtara Wilderness that has opened on the northern edge of the park. With only 5 jeeps allowed from the gate, and no other lodges or campgrounds in the area, you have this beautiful park range north of the Pench River all to yourself. Best of all, you can access other park ranges from here. Jamtara is a very convenient link between Tadoba or Kanha tiger reserve and my favorite tiger reserve – Satpura.

satpura: Satpura, one of the largest, wildest and least known tiger reserves, offers the best wilderness experience in tiger country. You can hike here or take an exciting 2-3 night trek through the park that ends at the highest point in central India; explore the edge of the forest by canoe and experience game drives where you may be the only jeep in sight for long periods. Tigers are shy and not used to jeeps or people, and therefore less visible than in other parks, but Satpura is better for leopards, wild dogs, sloths, giant squirrels, gaur and birds. Best of all, the unique tourism model allows you to explore the jungle virtually alone and experience the precious joy of being alone in tiger country. Combine Satpura with Corbett for a unique tiger safari.

Corbett: An absolutely beautiful tiger reserve in the foothills of the Himalayas east of Delhi offering the chance to live inside the tiger reserve in secluded splendor with your expert guide, cook and helper. It offers a fantastic way to experience the jungle, and you can combine this with fishing for the mighty mahseer and hiking in the scenic mid-Himalayas of the Kumaon region.

Ranthambore: For anyone traveling to Rajasthan who wants to include a tiger safari, Ranthambhore is the most convenient reserve. It is a very beautiful park rich in wildlife, with an evocative fort dominating the landscape and romantic ruins scattered throughout the jungle. Tiger densities and sightings are excellent, and recent new regulations now ensure a much more enjoyable experience in this busy park. There are two small and very beautiful camps here: Sherbagh and Khem Villas which have excellent accommodation, food and guides.

asian leopards

Sri Lanka’s parks have become famous for the visibility of leopards, a distinct breed from the Indian leopard. Yala is the most famous and while it is certainly beautiful, it is also the most crowded.

Willapatu: My favorite park in Sri Lanka. Long forgotten due to the civil war, this special park is very convenient for any itinerary to Anuradhapura. A beautiful luxury mobile camp provides the perfect base for exploring this park, and sightings of leopards are common. It’s still an incredibly quiet park and there are days when you could have the park to yourself.

Bera and Siana in Rajasthan: I have become so used to seeing leopards within protected forests that I forget how adaptable and widely distributed this big cat is. In the arid and stunning rock-strewn landscape that is home to colorful herding communities in southeastern Rajasthan, there are two regions where leopards and humans coexist in relative harmony outside of any wildlife sanctuary. In Bera, we have seen children walking to school watched by a leopard on a rock just a couple of hundred meters away, both parties comfortable in each other’s presence. Here, a new luxury camp called Jawai Leopard Camp offers the perfect base to spot leopards and experience a truly unchanging and picturesque region of India. Siana, also in the same rocky hills, offers a larger, more basic campsite with the added attraction of excellent horse riding.

Satpura Tiger Reserve: In central India, this beautiful, mountainous reserve is home to a large number of highly visible leopards, along with less frequently seen sloth bears. Sightings are fantastic both within the park and in the buffer zone forests accessed on night drives.

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: In the foothills of the picturesque Nilgiri Mountains and near Ooty, the buffer zone forests of this park are great for spotting wild leopards and elephants, hyenas and sloths. This park can be combined with Nagarhole for a splendid wildlife safari in South India.

asiatic lions

Few people know that lions exist in Asia. Extinct in the rest of its Asian range, Panthera leo persica was exiled to a small corner of the western Indian state of Gujarat and protected by the ruler of the former princely state of Junagadh. Current population numbers of nearly 400 are still confined to Gir National Park. The history of the Gir lions is remarkable, as is their coexistence with local cattle herders called Maldharis. Our lion safaris also take in the other wildlife and unique landscapes of Gujarat, including the last remaining population of the Indian Wild Ass in the Rann of Kutch, the diverse wildlife of the expansive Banni Grasslands and the little snippet that is all that remains of what was once vast. Gujarat savannahs that are home to blackbuck and bluebull antelopes, hyenas, warthogs, wolves and wild cats. And in winter, spectacular concentrations of migratory harriers.

snow leopard – Ladakh: Visitors can enjoy the best snow leopard safaris in Ladakh, India.