Planning a trip to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park? Download opspoor to see recent sightings in the park and log your own.
Your chances of seeing Leopard in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Trophy sighting. Leopard are one of the trophy sightings of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: hard, but never impossible. Drive early and late, and open opspoor before you head out to see where they've been spotted recently.
When to see Leopard in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Leopard are most active early morning (04:00 to 08:00), late afternoon into dusk (16:00 to 20:00) and at night (18:00 to 06:00). In the heat of the day (10:00 to 16:00) Leopard usually rest in shade, so scan under trees and in thickets. Much of their activity falls outside gate hours, so the first drive after the gates open and the last hour before they close give you the best chance.
This is Leopard's general behavior. Once enough sightings are logged in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, this page also shows when they're actually seen here.
Where to look for Leopard in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: best roads and waterholes
Drive
Kaa Access Road, Upper Dune Road and Lower Dune Road run through kalahari dunes and sandveld: good country for Leopard.
- Kaa Access Road80.2 km · kalahari dunes and sandveld
- Upper Dune Road52.7 km · kalahari dunes and sandveld
- Lower Dune Road35.4 km · kalahari dunes and sandveld
Picked from habitat, not from sightings. opspoor shows where Leopard have actually been seen recently.
Wait at water
Leopard are drawn to water, so waiting at a waterhole is one of the best ways to see them.
How to spot Leopard in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
About the Leopard
The leopard is a highly adaptable and widely distributed African wild cat recognised by its muscular build, golden coat covered with dark rosettes and long tail. It occurs in a remarkable range of habitats, including savanna, woodland, forest, mountains and semi-arid areas. Leopards are primarily nocturnal and solitary hunters, feeding on a wide variety of prey from rodents and birds to medium-sized antelope. They are powerful climbers and often drag kills into trees to protect them from competing predators and scavengers.
How to identify the Leopard
Large, muscular cat with a pale yellow to golden coat covered in black rosettes. The pattern varies considerably between individuals. Leopards have a long tail, powerful limbs and a relatively broad head.
Other species to look for in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Other parks where you can see Leopard
Easiest first.
Heading to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park? opspoor shows where Leopard have been logged recently and lets you log your own, even with no signal.