Where in Africa can you reliably photograph not just one but all three species of big cats - lions, leopards and cheetahs?

The African Continent is massive & several places come to mind & are certainly possible. These include the Serengeti & Masai-Mara regions of Tanzania & Kenya as well as the low lying regions of Kruger National Park in South Africa and Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Chobe and Moremi areas. All of these have great potential however none have the perfect storm of environmental factors necessary to reliably and almost always be able to photograph all three species in just one short trip.

Cheetahs tend to avoid densely wooded areas as they aren’t able to reach their top speed when seeking prey. Leopards are hard to find most places but especially so in open grassland environments. Lion populations are dwindling across the continent and as of the time of this writing only occupy about eight percent of their historic range.

On our special 'Big Cats of Africa' photography safari, lions, leopards & cheetah are generally seen daily, not just one species but all three! Zebra, giraffe, and herds of African elephants also roam the expansive plains on our journey through the heart of the African wilderness however the focus (no pun intended) of this trips is BIG CATS. Lots of them!

Exciting, awe inspiring? Oh yes. An African Safari dedicated to photographing the most incredible feline predators on the planet, hand-crafted for YOU by your expert photo guides at Backcountry Journeys.

As with several other of our photo safari itineraries, our Big Cats of Africa safari will take us to Mashatu, a wild & diverse 72,000-acre game reserve in Botswana. Here we join with our expert wildlife trackers who know the wilds of Mashatu like the back of their hands - after all they live here, they grew up here & they know the land intimately - which means they know where to find the lions, cheetahs & leopards during any month of the year - and take you right to them! Unlike many of the crowded National Parks elsewhere in Africa, the cats tend to be relaxed here around safari vehicles. The region features two large rivers (the Majale and the Matebole) so in addition to lion & cheetah it is not unusual to have more than two leopard sightings on a single game drive.

If you are on the hunt for beautiful, full-frame & close-up photos of African big cats - this is your trip!

Lions, leopards and cheetahs (all three) are seen on the Mashatu Game reserve just about every day of the year. Even during the wet season when cat sightings can be difficult elsewhere due to thick vegetation, Mashatu can deliver big-time. Leopards are not easy to see anywhere, but at Mashatu you can more or less bet on it.

In addition to lion, leopard, cheetah, other predator species such as Black-backed jackal, African wildcat, bat-eared fox and spotted hyena are easily & often photographed at the preserve. The reason? Mashatu is a vast, ungated wilderness area surrounded only by more wildlands including the Northern Tuli Game Reserve and Kruger National Park in South Africa. The vast herds are able to roam far and wide, untrammeled by the hand of man.

Due to extensive conservation efforts through eco-tourism, rather than hunting, this gem of a sanctuary was created where animal populations could grow with minimal human interference which has resulted in massive increases in their populations.

After spending your days photographing big cats (both on-road & off) - return each night to your well appointed safari-style “camp,” where you’ll find camaraderie with your fellow photographers under the starry African skies.  The private tents themselves are spacious, comfortable and large enough that there’s no need to duck to get around. Each is mounted on a raised platform and has its own private en-suite facilities.

Botswana, and in particular the Mashatu Game Reserve remains one of the greatest spectacles on the continent of Africa for big cat photography, so come join BCJ on this once in a lifetime odyssey. It’s remote, seemingly limitless wilderness is vast and untrammeled by the hand of man. Our meticulous scouting, expert local wildlife guides and world-class logistics mean that you're in good hands when it comes to finding & photographing the greatest & most diverse population of feline predators on planet Earth!