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Your chances of seeing Leopard in Pilanesberg National Park
Trophy sighting. Leopard are one of the trophy sightings of Pilanesberg 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 Pilanesberg 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.
Logged in Pilanesberg so far
Park-local time of day for every confirmed sighting. Early numbers follow when people drive as much as when Leopard move.
Logged between August 2026 and October 2026.
Where to look for Leopard in Pilanesberg National Park: best roads and waterholes
Drive
Moruleng, Thlware and Dithabaneng run through mixed bushveld and open grassland: good country for Leopard.
- Moruleng3.9 km · mixed bushveld
- Thlware2.6 km · mixed bushveld
- Dithabaneng12.5 km · mixed bushveld and open grassland
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 Pilanesberg National Park
How to spot Leopard in Pilanesberg 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 Pilanesberg National Park
Other parks where you can see Leopard
Easiest first.
Heading to Pilanesberg National Park? opspoor shows where Leopard have been logged recently and lets you log your own, even with no signal.