The Wild Source >> Leopard

Leopard

Summary
Typically leopards are very elusive and often shy making them difficult to observe. Luckily in some safari areas individual leopards become habituated and tolerate being viewed. Keep this in mind as you see many areas touted for their Big 5 viewing. In many places they do indeed have Big 5 as leopards are present, however, in many cases they are rarely seen and when they are it is for a fleeting moment.

Best Places
Without a doubt the best leopard viewing is within the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, which is adjacent to the Kruger National Park in South Africa. Here there are a high number of leopards that are highly habituated and provide close up viewing. It is rare to not see a leopard daily in this reserve and you may well see a number of different individuals depending on what area you stay in.

Other Areas of Note
There are local areas within the Serengeti and Masai Mara that are known for frequent leopard sightings. There are a number of locations in Northern Botswana that typically have good sightings. South Luangwa is known for having frequent sightings of leopard on night drives.

Something Extra
See masters at work as Bushmen trackers at Deception Valley Lodge follow the leopard spoor left behind in the Kalahari sands. The tracking effort is exciting and rewarding in it’s own right and often the result is one of the gorgeous and very relaxed leopards that prowl the concession.