Photo Safari
$50.00 per person per hour
Must be over 10 years of age
100+ cats are healthy, beautiful and friendly
Your fees go directly to the animals.
Call to reserve (813) 426-5948
Frequently Asked Questions FAQ?
* See a slide show from a visitor's tour HERE.
Photo Safari Info
Big Cat Rescue is proud to offer photographers, professional and amateur alike, the opportunity to photograph some of the rarest and most exotic wild cats in the world. Biologists and naturalists spend years, sometimes even decades in tropical jungles seeking to catch a glimpse of some of these creatures. If you don't have that kind of time to wait for such a shot, you won't want to miss this opportunity!!!
Big Cat Rescue has recreated a special
rain forest setting in which to capture these cats on film. A three-acre
Tiger pen has been constructed out into a lake so that you can photograph
three of our most magnificent tigers swimming, playing, and lounging at
the water's edge. South American Cougars can be filmed in palmetto and oak
forest settings. Asian and African Leopards, both spotted and black, can
be photographed in lush foliage and lounging in trees. 
Northern
and Southern Bobcats live in natural wooded environments, perfect for getting
priceless shots of Bobcats doing Bobcat things (sneaking through high grass,
climbing trees, or lounging in shady spots). Other species available in beautiful
natural surroundings include Snow Leopards, Caracals, Eurasian Lynxes,
Lions, African Civets, and Binturongs (Asian Civet). Look
through the photos on this site under the animal listings (our cats) to see
what is available to you.
We cater to small groups. You can shoot throughout the day or divide your day into two sessions, in order to make the most of morning and evening light. If it rains, you will only be charged for the hours you shoot, at our hourly rate. Advance reservations and your preferred scheduling are required so that we can accommodate you. You will be given a brief tour to the entire facility so that you can plan your day.
Many
people visit in the winter months to escape their northern temperatures,
however, by latter December, January and February the plants here have
gone to brown. Florida is hot and lush
with greenery from March through November. The cats are not
as active as in the cooler months, but sometimes it is much easier to focus
on a lounging cat than a moving one.
All of the money generated from the Photo Safaris goes directly into bigger and nicer enclosures for the animals, and unlike many game farms, our cats live in the photo pens year round and so they are relaxed and comfortable in their surroundings.
Also, unlike most places that offer photo safaris, our animals come first. If a cat isn't in the mood, then we move on to someone who is and will not impose on the animal. Some of our more elusive cats can be very difficult and we cannot guarantee that you will get a good photo of the Geoffroy Cats, Asian Leopard Cats, Sand Cats, etc. but we will give it our best effort.
Due to new USDA regulations we must keep you outside of the 3 foot barricades around the cages at all times. If you have professional equipment you can blur out the 4" x 4" cage wire if the cat is far enough away. If you are using amateur equipment, you will have cage wire in most of your pictures. If the tigers come down to swim we have an area where you can photograph from a dock without cage wire visible and sometimes the bearcats are up in the trees above the wire.
* See one of our photo safaris in a slide show HERE.
* View another slide show of a great photo safari HERE.
For more info contact Info@BigCatRescue.org or (813) 426-5948
* To get photos like these, you will need a tripod and long zoom lens.
Big Cat Rescue Photo FAQ
What is the difference between a photo tour and other tours?
Photo tours are designed for professional and serious amateur photographers who want to get great shots of the animals. The cats live in beautifully landscaped enclosures complete with trees, flowers, grass, and in some cases lakes, ponds and waterfalls. We do not “handle” the cats for photographers; instead, participants in the photo tour follow the guide around to different enclosures while we look for animals that are already “posing” for pictures. Sometimes treats are given to the animals to coax them into different areas of their cages. We never guarantee a shot because we don't force any animal to do anything.
How many people attend a photo tour?
We never take more than 4 people on a single photo tour. When you make a reservation that time slot is reserved for you and your companions. Very rarely we will combine small groups of 1-2 people together to better utilize our guide availability. If you want to guarantee that you have a totally private photo tour just double the photo tour prices below for a guaranteed private tour. You must be over the age of 18 and in good physical health to participate or to tag along.
How much does a photo tour cost?
The photo tour costs $50 per hour per person whether you are filming or just tagging along. We don't accept more than 4 people per tour because of the private nature of the tour.
How long are photo tours?
The most popular amount of time for a photo tour is 2 hours. If you only want to photograph tigers or lions you could probably get some nice shots in an hour but if you want photos of some of the smaller, more reclusive cats like sand cats or ocelots 3-4 hours might be necessary. You must make a decision on how long you would like to spend photographing the animals when you make your reservation because we have to have a set amount of time to set aside for our guides.
When are photo tours offered?
Photo tours are offered Monday through Saturday by reservation only. Mornings are usually better with most photo tours beginning at 8 or 9 a.m. or if you prefer, 2 or 3 p.m.
What time of year is best?
During May-September it is rainy and cloudy and very hot but it is also very green and blooming with flowers at the sanctuary. From October through February it can be cold and the foliage can turn brown but it is not muddy or cloudy very often. In March and April the weather warms up and foliage begins to turn green again and the rain days are few and far between.
What species of animals are there at Big Cat Rescue?
Big Cat Rescue is home to 16 species of cats and a few other animals including lions (both male and female), tigers (both orange and white), leopards (both golden and black), cougars, snow leopards, lynx, bobcats, caracals, servals, jungle cats, ocelots, sand cats and more. The 45 acre property is also home to many varieties of wild native Florida birds including herons, egrets, osprey, woodpeckers and cardinals and also non-native fowl such as peacocks, guinea hens and mute swans.
What photo equipment should I bring?
Big Cat Rescue is situated on 45 acres and has no paved trails so travel light. Bring two camera bodies if you have them in case one malfunctions. A 28-105mm zoom lens and a 75-300 or 400mm lens are both suggested. Film speeds between 200-800 work best with the shady conditions that our trees provide but 100 speed film can be used in sunny spots or with a flash. Tripods and monopods are not useful in most situations because the animals move by the time you have composed your shot. Don't forget to bring extra batteries, film and/or memory cards.
What should I wear?
Taking the weather into consideration, wear appropriate clothes for a nice hike including comfortable shoes, sunscreen, bug repellant and clothes you can get dirty or muddy. In the summer, rain routinely floods the walking paths throughout the sanctuary so wear shoes you can get very wet or muddy. Also, don't wear heavy scents or perfumes because they can attract the cats. Golf Cart donated by Publix Supermarket Charities.
How do I make a reservation?
You can make a photo tour reservation by calling our reservations line at (813) 426-5948 or E-mail Info@BigCatRescue.org.
Some of our film credits include the series The Most X-treme Killer Cats, Sheena, The Jack Hanna Show, The Today Show, Venus Swimwear's catalogue and billboards, Home Shopping Network and these:
At Left,
Disney cinema photographer records leopard sounds for the animated Disney
production, Dinosaurs.
Publix shot their Fall commercial for 1997 here and used the Leopard Tiki Huts as a backdrop. The commercial featured Black Majik the leopard, Musfasa and Sarabi, the lions, Purrfection and Purrsistence, the Ocelots and Natasha and Willow, the Siberian Lynx.
Prices and terms subject to change without notice.