See the Elusive Snow Leopards with Tigerwalah

 

Snow Leopards are some of the most enigmatic animals in the Himalayan Mountain ranges. These animals are so rare that an opportunity to see them in their natural habitat is one of the greatest experiences you will ever have. Snow Leopards currently exist only in 12 countries and its fortunate that a good population of them make the cliffs of trans-Himalayan landscape in Spiti and Ladakh their home. The locals highly revere these elusive creatures and since they are rarely seen they have named them, The Grey Ghost.  Moreover, the government of India has identified the Snow Leopards as the flagship species for the high-altitude Himalayas, meaning if the Snow Leopards thrive then so will the countless other species in these high-altitude regions.  

Do you know why they are called elusive and hard to spot?  

It’s because they are loners by nature. 

 

To be honest, there is no term to even describe a group of Snow Leopards, since it’s extremely hard to spot even two Snow Leopards together. Apart from their solitary nature, they are extremely captivating with their Rosettes which are just large ring-like patterns enclosing smaller spots. They also have thick grey and yellow-tinged fur with solid spots on the head, throat & lower limbs and rosettes all over the body. Snow Leopards use their extremely long & thick tails to balance on the rocks and wrap it around their bodies for warmth. They are extremely agile and can jump as far as 50 feet. They also have huge, hairy paws that serve as snowshoes as well as protection from sharp rocks. 

Travelling in a freezing climate and amid snowfalls will undoubtedly be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Seeing animals that thrive in these frigid regions would be something that you would definitely want to experience.  Make sure you're well-prepared with warm clothing and all of the things you'll need for the trip; the higher you go, the colder it gets. Especially since, the best time for you to book the Snow Leopard Tour is during the winter, when it’s easier to spot them. You will also be able to spot various other rare species of fauna like the Siberian Ibex, Golden Eagle, Blue Sheep, Tibetan Snowcock, Red Fox and more. This is especially because of the low temperatures during the winter which forces the animals to migrate farther down in the mountains in search of food and warmth.  

Even with their elusive nature and the hard-to-reach terrains they live in, they are still listed under “Vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. They face long term threats from climate change while on the short term they have to compete with the locals and other wildlife for food which is especially hard in the Himalayan region known for its harsh climates, sheer rock faces and ginormous glaciers. Fortunately, enough the snow leopards in these regions are highly protected from poachers and other threats allowing them the freedom to roam as they like. This makes the Spiti Valley the perfect place to spot them since they have a stable Snow Leopard population undisturbed and unharmed.  

Tigerwalah has the expertise and the ability to arrange a wildlife tour to spot these beautiful but mysterious animals in their natural habitat.  

With Tigerwalah, your chances of seeing a Snow Leopard or two are exceedingly high. They are the best at everything they do, from planning your personalised tour to ensuring that you have the best chance of seeing these rare wild creatures. They have experts who are very familiar with these animals, their movements and their routines. They can easily direct you to the ideal viewing spot for these spectacular Snow Leopards. Tigerwalah even has separate packages for professionals interested in capturing photographs of these rare snow leopards. 

 

Customized wildlife tours with Tigerwalah

Tigerwalah provides you with some of the most authentic wildlife tours and safaris personalized to suit your specific needs. My first experience in a wildlife sanctuary was with Tigerwalah when the company I work at took us to a “Wildlife and Nature retreat”. I have never been a fan of the wild or the nature but this trip was an eye opener especially when I had all the luxury of my home but with a spectacular view and a tremendous once in a lifetime experience. The serenity of nature and seeing the wild animals within their natural habitat was amazing. Our company booked a 3-day wildlife tour and jungle safari at the Kanha National Park located in the Maikal range of Satpuras, Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the largest tiger reserves in India. So, the Kanha Tiger Safari and wildlife tour became the perfect place for the retreat once Tigerwalah was able to customize the trip based on our company personnel and budget.  

We booked this retreat during the month of November, it was recommended to be the best time to see the rare creatures like the Indian Tigers, panthers and more. Once we arrived, Tigerwalah arranged our stay at the Camp Dev Vilas, it looked like it was part of the jungle. Such a beautiful place with luxurious rooms and services. We took a bit of rest, had a tasty lunch then set out on our first wildlife Safari. It was mind-boggling to say the least especially with the dense maroon forest. We saw a lot of wildlife as well like the Wild dogs, black bucks, chitals, barking deer, wild dogs, sloth bears and sambars. Surprisingly enough, on the first day itself we were able to spot the Barasingha, the swamp deer near a stream. The Barasingha is also popular called as the “Jewel of Kanha” since it is one of the key species in the Kanha National Park. The most amazing part of the Jungle Safari was when we were able to get close enough to the tigers and take pictures. They were so majestic and ferocious but the tiger cubs though they were the cutest things I had ever seen. Who knew large jungle cats would be so proud and majestic looking when roaming about in their territory? Another beautiful place we visited in the Kanha National Park was called Bammi Dadar or the sunset point. It had such a spectacular view. I took a lot of pictures to show my family, just so they will be willing to take a trip to one of the Wildlife Sanctuaries with me. Tigerwalah even has specialized trips for families.  

The next couple of days were just as eventful, we had a nice time bonding over the rare flora and fauna. It was peaceful and just what we needed, some time away from the office and a chance to truly enjoy nature together.  Since I was part of the team organizing the trip with Tigerwalah, I got to know how Tigerwalah really works. They took care of everything and when I say everything, I mean everything from booking the Jungle Safari, providing us with an expert guide to booking the resort and more. They were even able to customize the trip based on our company goals and needs. This was one of the most easily planned and executed retreats our company has ever booked. The entire planning was impressive, they didn’t miss a single detail. We had the best time during the jungle safari, they knew the best places to spot tigers and other rare wild animals.   

This year when the company suggested another wildlife retreat, the entire office cheered. This time we are planning to book a weeklong wildlife tour and safaris with Tigerwalah. They have this spectacular Snow Leopards tour and Red Panda Tour. We are still debating over the destination but Tigerwalah is our choice touring company. How can we not choose them when they even packed us some breakfast for the morning safaris and took us to designated places to have our breakfast amidst the serenity of the wild?