Rajasthan is one of very few places where you can realistically see both of India’s great spotted and striped cats in a single journey, each in its finest setting. The Big Cat Trail brings together the five most rewarding big cat landscapes in the state: the tiger forests of Ranthambore and Sariska, the urban leopard reserves of Jhalana and Amagarh in Jaipur, and the granite leopard hills of Jawai.
It is our most complete predator journey, built for travellers who want depth: several drives in each place, a variety of habitats and the time to watch behaviour rather than simply tick off a sighting.
Trail at a Glance
- Destinations: Ranthambore, Sariska, Jhalana, Amagarh, Jawai
- Suggested length: 9 to 10 days
- Best season: October to June. March to May is ideal for serious photographers
- Ideal for: Wildlife photographers, returning safari travellers and anyone who wants both tiger and leopard
Two Cats, Two Strategies
Tigers and leopards share much of their range, but they live very differently, and the trail is designed around that. Tigers are the dominant predator in Ranthambore and Sariska, so leopards there tend to keep to rocky edges and higher ground. In Jaipur’s reserves and in Jawai, where there are no tigers, leopards become the top predator, more confident and more often seen in the open.
That is why the trail pairs tiger reserves with leopard landscapes. In tiger country we focus on lakes, waterholes and well used tiger routes. In leopard country we scan ridgelines, caves and rock perches at first and last light, when leopards emerge to sun themselves and set off to hunt.
The Destinations
- Ranthambore: Tigers in daylight among lakes, ruined pavilions and a UNESCO listed fort. Home to roughly 70 tigers, many descended from the famous tigress Machli.
- Sariska: The forest that lost all its tigers by 2005 and became the site of the world’s first helicopter relocation of a tiger in 2008. Now home to more than 40 tigers, with good leopard numbers and far fewer vehicles than Ranthambore.
- Jhalana: India’s first leopard conservation reserve, declared in 2017, set within Jaipur’s city limits. Some of the highest leopard sighting rates in the country.
- Amagarh: Jhalana’s quieter, steeper neighbour, opened for safaris in 2022, with leopards, striped hyenas and views over the Pink City.
- Jawai: More than 60 leopards among granite hills, caves and village temples, living alongside Rabari herders in a remarkable story of coexistence.
Suggested Plan
- Day 1: Arrive at Lalluji Luxe. Afternoon safari in Amagarh.
- Day 2: Dawn safari in Jhalana. Afternoon at leisure in the old city.
- Day 3: Drive to Sariska. Afternoon safari.
- Day 4: Morning safari in Sariska, return to Jaipur.
- Day 5: Transfer to Ranthambore. Afternoon safari.
- Days 6 and 7: Four safaris across different zones of Ranthambore.
- Day 8: Long drive to Jawai, breaking the journey for lunch. Evening drive in the hills.
- Day 9: Dawn and dusk leopard drives in Jawai.
- Day 10: Final morning drive, then onward to Udaipur or Jodhpur, both around two and a half to three hours away.
Why Ten Days Works
Big cats are wild, and no single safari is guaranteed. Spreading roughly fifteen drives across five landscapes gives you repeated chances in each, the flexibility to follow up on fresh pugmarks or a known territory, and enough rest that the early starts never feel punishing. Returning to Lalluji Luxe between reserves means a proper bed, a warm shower and home cooked food in the middle of the adventure.
What You May See
Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, sloth bear, striped hyena, jungle cat, golden jackal, Indian fox, sambar, spotted deer, nilgai, chinkara, mugger crocodile, along with raptors such as Crested Serpent Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle and Indian Eagle Owl.
Photography Notes
- Bring a long lens, 400mm or more, plus a wider lens for tigers near the vehicle and leopards in their landscape.
- Ranthambore’s lakes reward low angles and patience. Jawai rewards golden light on granite.
- We can request private Gypsies where available, so you can position for light and stay with a sighting longer.
- Spare batteries and cards matter. Days start before dawn and end after sunset.
Short on time? Try the Leopard Trail or the Tiger Trail, or go back to all Wildlife Experiences.