In search of snow leopards in Mongolia
Founder Charuka Abhayawickrama recalls a winter wildlife journey into Mongolia’s mountains in February 2024.
In February 2024, I travelled to Mongolia in search of one of the world’s most elusive cats: the snow leopard. The conditions were demanding, with temperatures reaching around minus 30 degrees Celsius, but the chance to spend time in those vast mountain landscapes made the journey unforgettable.
During the trip, I was fortunate to have three snow leopard sightings. Each encounter was a reminder of how much patience, local knowledge and respect for wildlife matter when looking for a species so perfectly adapted to its surroundings.
Experiences like this shape the way we plan journeys at Cha Nature Travels: taking time in the field, working with people who know the landscape, and appreciating the wild animals and habitats that make these places special.
This is a personal travel story from our founder, not a promise of future sightings. Wildlife encounters depend on the season, conditions and the animals themselves.