Planning a trip to Kruger National Park? Download opspoor to see recent sightings in the park and log your own.
Your chances of seeing Leopard in Kruger National Park
Trophy sighting. Leopard are one of the trophy sightings of Kruger National 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 Kruger National 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 Kruger National Park, this page also shows when they're actually seen here.
Where to look for Leopard in Kruger National Park: best roads and waterholes
Drive
S59, S21 N'watimhiri Road and S110 Matjulu Loop run through mixed bushveld: good country for Leopard.
- S5930.9 km · mixed bushveld
- S21 N'watimhiri Road27.3 km · mixed bushveld
- S110 Matjulu Loop24.4 km · mixed bushveld
Picked from habitat, not from sightings. opspoor shows where Leopard have actually been seen recently.
Wait at water
Leopard are drawn to water, especially in the dry season (May to October), so waiting at a waterhole is one of the best ways to see them.
Recent Leopard sightings in Kruger National Park
How to spot Leopard in Kruger National 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 Kruger National Park
Other parks where you can see Leopard
Easiest first.
Heading to Kruger National Park? opspoor shows where Leopard have been logged recently and lets you log your own, even with no signal.