Leopard

(Panthera pardus)

lion

Of the Big 5, leopards are the most difficult to find in the Kruger National Park. They are extremely shy and elusive, and are active at night, making it difficult for visitors to find them during the day. They love rocky areas and dense thickets and are often found along rivers, although their solitary nature makes them hard to spot.

Male
Female
male leopard female leopard

Shoulder height:

60-70cm / 24-28in

Shoulder height:

55-65cm / 22-26in

Weight:

35-90kg / 77-200lbs

Weight:

28-58kg / 61-128lbs

Main pride role:

Mating and defending territory

Main pride role:

Raising her cubs

Features:

Sexes look the same but males are larger than females


More leopard facts:

Habitat:

Leopards are extremely adaptive and will survive in most habitats – from mountains to grass plains to forests. Your best bet would be to search in relatively dense areas, especially along riverbeds, and where there is a good density of large trees.

Active:

Leopards are active at night, but may be active on cool or overcast/rainy days. They may also hunt early in the morning or late in the afternoon

Food:

In the Kruger National Park, leopards feed primarily on impalas. They will, however, eat anything from grasshoppers and fish to porcupines and young wildebeests; they are extremely adaptive. Their diet may also include birds and rodents.

Gestation:

90-100 days

Cubs:

1-3 cubs

Weaned:

Cubs are weaned as early as 3 months

Social structure:

Both males and females walk alone and only meet up to mate. Females and cubs stay together until the cubs are between 18-24 months, where after they get evicted from her territory

In Kruger:

To learn more about how to find leopards in Kruger, check out the right-hand sidebar.
 

 
The differences between a leopard and a cheetah:
Leopard
Cheetah
leopard cheetah

The leopard is much more bulky than the cheetah and is mostly active at night. A cheetah is slender and taller, and hunts during the day. A cheetah's spots are small and round, while a leopard's spots are larger rosettes. Leopards often climb trees and take their prey up as well. Cheetahs are not good tree climbers and spend most of their lives on the ground.

 

Back to main mammals page

How to find leopards in the Kruger National Park:

leopard

Stay at these camps:
Berg-en-Dal
Skukuza
Shingwedzi

Drive these roads:
S110 Matjulu Loop
H4-1 tar road
S1 Doispane road
S39 gravel road
S52 Red Rocks Loop

Top tips:
If you are on a self-drive, search for leopards early in the morning, just after the gate opens.

Drive slowly and search along riverbeds and don't forget to look in the large trees. Also look for leopards where there are rocky outcrops.

It might be worth following up on a leopard kill, because they sometimes feed on a carcass for days.

Consider going on a night drive, because leopards often hunt at night.

Check out our leopard gallery:leopard gallery



© Copyright 2013 go!
Incorrect username or password

Forgot password?

If you register you can:

  • Share your travel stories and tips
  • Upload your photos
  • Talk to other Go readers online
  • Seek advice
  • Save all your web favourites
  • Participate in the Go test panel