Addo Elephant National Park
Eastern Cape · Year-round
5 places
Wildlife
Leopard Tortoise
Stigmochelys pardalis
The leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) is a large and attractively marked tortoise found in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa, from Sudan to the southern Cape.
Species insights
When to visit
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Best monthsAny month
Recorded in Eastern Cape~1,090 records
Curve from 6,814 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Where you'll find it
Western Cape and beyond
Provinces where Leopard Tortoise is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
6,814 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Leopard Tortoise
Stays that give back
Across the Eastern Cape
Langebos Huts
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 2,093a night
Leopard Tortoise recorded here
Spekboom Tented Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 1,490a night
Leopard Tortoise recorded here
Nyathi Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 2,901a night
Leopard Tortoise recorded here
Matyholweni Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 2,426a night
Leopard Tortoise recorded here
Addo Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 461a night
Leopard Tortoise recorded here
More stays nearby
Cycads On Sea
St Francis Bay
From R 2,460a night
Walkerbouts Inn - Rhodes
Rhodes
From R 600a night
Avoca River Cabins
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From R 980a night
Lupus Den Country House
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From R 2,600a night
Forest Hall Guest House
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From R 1,050a night
Kwandwe Melton Manor
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Price on request
GweGwe Beach Lodge
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From R 11,592a night
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
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Price on request
Karoo Cottage - Sneeuberg Nature Reserve
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From R 3,100a night
Hlosi Game Lodge
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From R 4,000a night
Kwandwe Uplands Homestead
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Hitgeheim Country Lodge Addo
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From R 2,000a night
Karoo Secret Farm Stay
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From R 1,200a night
Kwandwe Fort House
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Price on request
Aasvogelkrans Farm Cottages & Camping
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From R 1,760a night
Pabala Private Nature Reserve
Hankey
From R 485a night
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Storms River Mouth Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)
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From R 457a night
The Garden Route
Next stop
Forests, lagoons, and Knysna's sheltered bay
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Leopard Tortoise
Hosts have recorded the Leopard Tortoise at stays in or beside Addo Elephant National Park.
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Addo Elephant | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here |
Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.
Best hours of the day
- The warm hours of the day. The Leopard Tortoise needs the sun's warmth before it moves.
- Cold mornings and nights. Tucked away until the day warms up.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Stigmochelys pardalis
Records
6,814
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Leopard Tortoise on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Leopard Tortoise in Eastern Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Leopard Tortoise at stays in or beside Addo Elephant National Park. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the Leopard Tortoise in South Africa?
The Leopard Tortoise is most recorded in Western Cape (30% of records), Eastern Cape (16% of records), Limpopo (15% of records), based on 6,814 iNaturalist observations. 5 places to stay on Spekboom in Eastern Cape have recorded the Leopard Tortoise on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Leopard Tortoise?
The Leopard Tortoise is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Addo Elephant National Park: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Leopard Tortoise?
The leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) is a large and attractively marked tortoise found in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa, from Sudan to the southern Cape. It is the only member of the genus Stigmochelys, although in the past it was commonly placed in Geochelone. This tortoise is a grazing species that favors semi-arid, thorny to grassland habitats.
