Snow leopards come cloaked in such an aura of elusive mystery that to even attempt to try and see one seems to be the most forlorn of forlorn hopes. Twelve years ago, the first snow leopard treks were designed thanks to advice from the Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC) based out of Ladakh, and it seemed scarcely possible that such 'quests' could ever had a successful outcome.
There seemed something faintly Quixotic about the very idea of being able to spot one of these beautiful creatures. It seemed that the very act of searching for such an elusive and charismatic cat in its high, hostile, awe-inspiring home was the real reward, and any actual sighting of a flesh and blood cat was a matter of indescribable good luck or hallucination. However, some serious thought had been invested in the planning.
This was just after a ground-breaking BBC series had first captured these animals on film in the Rumbak valley of Ladakh's Hemis National Park in India. The people who had made it possible were the researchers and trackers from the SLC, led by their inspirational director, the late Rinchen Wangchuk.
In winter, as snow covers the high pastures, the animals follow their wild and domestic prey to the valley floors with many individuals concentrating around high value areas like the Rumbak Valley. Knowledge of this behaviour and favoured routes was gained over long arduous months of fieldwork on the part of the SLC team. This helped to position the BBC cameramen in the right places. Rinchen's idea was to leverage this same method for small scale tourism. He understood clearly that the only way to neutralise the severe threat of the revenge killing of leopards by Ladakhi shepherds - which dovetailed with the illegal fur and bone trade - was to make live snow leopards more valuable to local communities than dead ones. This was the formula that was adopted alongside the SLC, and to the astonishment of many, the first snow leopard trek struck lucky and managed to get some excellent sightings.
Over the years, the snow leopard trips have become a huge success. Motivated by increased earnings, local communities have supported the SLC's conservation programme, leading to significantly higher snow leopard numbers, leading in turn to better sightings, leading in turn - alas - to a snow leopard 'gold rush'. The quiet valleys and remote ridge tops that these small groups searched in virtual isolation are now (relatively) over-run by snow leopard 'hunters'. While these numbers are great for local communities and therefore for snow leopards, it was not great for the visitor experience that is more pleasant in wild country.
Last year, the area of operations was moved to another valley where a SLC trained tracker has set up an excellent home stay following some help and advice. Here in relative comfort, small groups (maximum 4) can spend 9 nights.
Three trackers with access to communications equipment fan out over three valleys. The beautiful creatures are carefully tracked and if activity is reported in a remote area, visitors have the ability to quickly set up a mobile camp and spend the required amount of time in the field if required. This gives them a huge degree of flexibility. It's important to stay away from the crowds; to contribute directly to snow leopard conservation and the local community, and to enjoy a spectacular area with a diverse array of wildlife in complete peace and quiet.
Travellers to this area don't have to be super-fit, prize-winning photographers, and because there is a home stay, not only do you get to interact with a lovely local family but you can stay in considerably greater comfort with excellent food, real(!) coffee, and additional creature comforts.
Best of all, you can utilise the services of some exceptional local trackers and of a specialist local naturalist.
Snow leopard safaris are an amazing opportunity to get up close and personal with some incredible wildlife in India. We organise the most amazing Indian snow leopard safaris.
We are the only luxury safari company in Europe that is entirely owned and staffed by people who have spent their lives being brought up in Africa and India. We know, watch, and understand the seasons - something which cannot be gleaned on a 2-week research trip to a country.
Contact us now to book your snow leopard safari.
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