Leopards are more adaptable than many other big cats so live in a variety of habitats, from forests and mountains to grasslands and deserts, and are able to survive in more degraded habitats and much closer to human dwellings. This is most notable in Mumbai, where (as seen in the BBC's Planet Earth II) the highest concentration of leopards anywhere in the world live within the boundary of the Sanjay Gandhi national park, one of the largest protected urban forests in the world, where they (generally) live peacefully alongside humans.

Leopards are solitary animals and once a cub reaches the age of two they will leave their mother to fend for themselves. For female cubs it's not all out on their ear though, as a mother will often cede a portion of her territory for her daughter to live and hunt in.

In Africa, the best chance of spotting a leopard on safari is in Sabi Sands Game Reserve in South Africa, Chief's Island in Botswana, or the South Luangwa in Zambia. Our top picks for Asian leopard spotting would be in Yala or Wilpattu National Parks in Sri Lanka in search of the Sri Lankan leopard; Ladakh in India for snow leopards; the Kinabatangan River, the Danum Valley and the Deramakot Reserve in Malaysian Borneo for the Sunda clouded leopard or in Jawai Bandh in India for the Indian leopard. Throughout the parks in Central India you will find some of the best game viewing in the country, which can be combined with village walks and other cultural experiences.