
Wildlife
African Wild Cat
The African wildcat (Felis lybica), also called Near Eastern wildcat is a wildcat species that lives in Northern Africa, the Near East and around the periphery of the Arabian Peninsula.
Species insights
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.
Curve from 498 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.
Northern Cape and beyond
Provinces where African Wild Cat is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
498 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the African Wild Cat
Stays that give back
Across Limpopo
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
African Wild Cat recorded here
iSimangaliso wetlands, sand forest, and Sodwana reefs
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the African Wild Cat
Hosts have recorded the African Wild Cat at stays in or beside Kruger National Park and Marakele National Park.
When to go, park by park
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kruger | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here |
| Marakele | Here | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing |
Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.
Ways to look
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
Species
Felis lybica
Records
498
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the African Wild Cat on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the African Wild Cat in Limpopo?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Wild Cat at stays in or beside Kruger National Park and Marakele 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 African Wild Cat in South Africa?
The African Wild Cat is most recorded in Northern Cape (36% of records), Mpumalanga (24% of records), Western Cape (22% of records), based on 498 iNaturalist observations. 23 places to stay on Spekboom in Limpopo have recorded the African Wild Cat on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the African Wild Cat?
The African Wild Cat 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. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Marakele National Park: May-Sep, dry season. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the African Wild Cat?
The African Wild Cat (Felis lybica) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
What is the African Wild Cat?
The African wildcat (Felis lybica), also called Near Eastern wildcat is a wildcat species that lives in Northern Africa, the Near East and around the periphery of the Arabian Peninsula. The status Least Concern on the IUCN Red List is attributed to the species, including all subspecies of wildcats.
























