Jawai Leopard Safari in Rajasthan

Jawai Leopard Safari in Jawai Leopard Sanctuary was on my bucket list ever since I saw the documentary by the Discovery Channel. Before that, I had never heard about the place. Check out this detailed guide and my experience.

Imagine strikingly beautiful leopards against the ancient rugged Aravalli mountains!

Jawai is not a protected wildlife sanctuary nor a national park, however, leopards not only exist here but are increasing in population. Probably that is why the hills are known as Leopard Hills.

Just like the hills in the neighbouring areas of Sena, Bera, the leopards of Jawai make for the most beautiful cohabit with the villagers.

Interestingly there has been no major case of man-animal conflict reported in recent years. Just like the Maldharis (the local tribe of jungles) in Gir National Park, the Jawai leopards are living harmoniously in the midst of people.

Conservation in Jawai Leopard Sanctuary

This has been a debated topic for a long time. Though there has been no conflict between man and leopard, there is no check when it comes to the number of visitors and the location of sightings since there are no gates as in a typical safari. 

However, conservation efforts have been taken in the past few years by the Rajasthan forest department wherein there are trackers who track the movements of leopards.

Private lands are closed to outside visitors. And only the local hotel/resort owners are allowed to take visitors on safari.

An open-topped 4×4 safari gypsy is the standard vehicle operational in the area along with a guide is compulsory for safari.

There is also a unique relationship between the leopards and the red turban herdsmen of the semi-nomadic Rabari community, who have lived peacefully for centuries.

The goats and lambs are the primary food of the leopard but there is no hue or cry by the community even if the leopard kills one of them. The local government compensates the shepherd for their loss under the Van Dhan Yojana. Through the efforts of the local community, the leopards of Jawai, have not only increased in number but are also being talked about. 

Leopards of Jawai

The Jawai hills were shaped by lava, millions of years ago, which have formed into natural caves that house the leopards. They eat the lambs and goats from herds that are plenty in the area. These leopards have adapted to a fast life – says Adam Bannister who believes that these felines lead relatively short lives owing to the unique landscape that is their home. You can read about his study Grow Fast And Die Young – The Accelerated Life Of A Jawai Leopard.

Leopard population in Jawai

As per my discussion with my guide, the latest figure stands at 55 leopards in an area of over 60km covering the villages of Jawai, Bera, Sena and other small villages.

Jawai Leopard Safari Lodge: Booking and Accommodation

There is no official website to book a safari like in the case of other wildlife sanctuaries. It is ideal to book a safari with the hotel/resort you are staying with. Recommended places of stay are:

Jawai Castle Resort

Sujan Jawai

Aravali Nature Luxury camp

Location and how to reach Jawai

The Jawai hills are located in the Pali district in the western state of Rajasthan. 

By road:

Jawai is approximately 140 km from Udaipur, 80km from Abu Road and 300km from Ahmedabad. Visitors can drive to Jawai from any of these locations. Bus services are also available.

By Train:

Jawai Bandh is an important station and a lot of trains on the western line stop here. 

By Air:

Closest airports to reach Jawai are Ahmedabad and Udaipur.

My experience with Jawai Leopard Safari

We drove from Ahmedabad to Jawai on Diwali day and reached around lunch. After a relaxed lunch at the hotel, we headed to the evening safari near the Jawai dam backwaters. This is the area most frequented by leopards and a sighting is almost guaranteed.

On the way, our guide looked over some hills from the road through the binoculars and drove around. At one point there was a dead end and we thought we had to turn back but to our surprise, we climbed the hill (almost at 45 degrees) in the gypsy to get a view of the higher hills. The view was spectacular but there was no leopard insight.

We turned around and went to another hill. There were already a couple of safari jeeps waiting and their binoculars all pointed in one direction. Our guide directed us to the location where a female leopard was resting.

We craned our necks and even with a good set of binoculars, it took us a good two minutes to locate her. Her camouflage was incredible. My 600mm camera could only cover this ground distance giving me a good leopard scape.

We watched her rest for sometime and then she disappeared in the buses. All that was left to devour was the granite formations, caves, the valley, cacti and the glistening water of Jawai dam.

Our guide informed us that Jawai Bandh is one of the largest water reservoirs in western Rajasthan and attracts an impressive array of birdlife and we should plan a trip in January to see some migratory species. Check the list of bird watching destinations around Ahmedabad.

There was a movement in the safari jeeps and we knew the leopard was out again. This time it was the naughty cub, maybe taking the risk of venturing out of the bush’s protection in spite of his mother telling him against it.

He rested, and jumped over to the next rock, before disappearing into the bushes again. The effortless grace of these leopards was mesmerising to watch against the pink hues of the sky on the other side. We enjoyed the quiet sunset and called it a day.

Next day morning safari brought it in a lot of excitement. We were near a hill in Bera at 6:30 am when it was still pitch dark.

One torchlight on the hill and our guide could locate a handsome male leopard near a cave. We waited for the dawn to break and then let the shutter fire away. And fire it did! The male leopard was comfortable in our company and at one point even enjoyed posing for us. It was a good show for over an hour.

Conclusion and Thoughts on Jawai

Jawai is a spectacular location, especially for wildlife enthusiasts who want to see leopards in the wild. So get into this countryside and experience the wilderness like never before. 

If you want to enjoy something other than wildlife there are a few places near Jawai like the Ranakpur Jain Temple and Kumbhalgarh Fort.

Sustainable tips for Jawai Leopard Safari

• This may not be a typical wildlife sanctuary but do not get down from your gypsy. 
• Wear camouflage colours that will easily blend with the rocky terrain – shades of green, brown and grey.
• Be quiet and do not make noise. We do not want to disturb the leopards.
• Carry water and food but do not dispose of plastic or leftover food. Keep it in your bag or gypsy and dispose of it safely once you return to the hotel.

Enjoy Indian Wildlife? Read more wildlife posts here

• For Nilgiri tahr: Eravikulam National Park, Munnar
• For Blackbucks: Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar
• For tiger: Jim Corbett National Park , Tadoba National Park
• For Asiatic lion: Gir National Park
• For Indian Rhino: Manas National Park

Possible trips from Jawai

• Things to do in Udaipur
• Ranakpur Jain Temple
• Eklingji and around
• Kumbhalgarh Fort
• Staycation at Dungarpur

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. It means it adds no extra cost to you if you book/buy through the link but I get a referral bonus which helps me earn a little to keep this website up and running.

Pin this post!