The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a wild cat native to Africa. It is rare in North Africa and the Sahel, but widespread in sub-Saharan countries except rainforest regions. On the IUCN Red List it is listed as Least Concern. Across its range, it occurs in protected areas, and hunting it is either prohibited or regulated in range countries.

Wildlife

Serval

Leptailurus serval

The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a wild cat native to Africa.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordServal10+ stays list it on site or nearby

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 Mpumalanga~81 records

Curve from 449 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

Gauteng and beyond

Provinces where Serval is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

449 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Serval

Places to stay

10+ results in Mpumalanga

Singita Ebony Lodge

Mpumalanga

Serval recorded here · Savanna biome · 42 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Boulders Lodge

Mpumalanga

Serval recorded here · Savanna biome · 43 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Sweni Lodge

Mpumalanga

Serval recorded here · Savanna biome · 53 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Lebombo Lodge

Mpumalanga

Serval recorded here · Savanna biome · 50 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Plains Camp @ Rhino Walking Safaris

Mpumalanga

Serval recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Aardvark, African elephant · Guided walk, Game drives

Supports BirdLife South Africa

Price on request

&Beyond Tengile River Lodge

Bushbuckridge

Serval recorded here · Savanna biome · 37 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Wildlife viewing

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 93,000 per night

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Hazyview

Serval recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives

From R 10,670 per night

Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge

Hazyview

Serval recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,400 per night

Dulini Moya

Bushbuckridge

Serval recorded here · Savanna biome · 38 birds recorded · Leadwood, Leopard · Safaris, Scenic drives

From R 28,990 per night

Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp

Marloth Park

Serval recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Impala, Spotted hyena · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 11,980 per night

Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp

Marloth Park

Serval recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,500 per night

Dulini River

Bushbuckridge

Serval recorded here · Savanna biome · 38 birds recorded · Sausage tree, Leopard · Safaris, Scenic drives

From R 28,990 per night

Dulini Leadwood

Bushbuckridge

Serval recorded here · Savanna biome · 38 birds recorded · Leadwood, Jackalberry · Safaris, Game drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 28,990 per night

More stays nearby

Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point

Hazyview

Savanna biome · 1 bird recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Price on request

Singita Lebombo Villa

Mpumalanga

Savanna biome

Price on request

Singita Castleton

Mpumalanga

Savanna biome · Yoga

Price on request

Singita Ebony Villa

Mpumalanga

Savanna biome

Price on request

&Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge

Hoedspruit

Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Game drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 37,800 per night

&Beyond Ngala Tented Camp

Phalaborwa

Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Dining experiences

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 52,000 per night

Mbizane Escarpment Retreat

Mbombela

Forest biome · 91 birds recorded

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 3,800 per night

Forellenhof Guest Farm

Wakkerstroom

Grassland biome · 28 birds recorded · Hiking, Fishing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,500 per night

Mvuradona Safari Lodge

Marloth Park

Savanna biome · Giraffe, Warthog · Safaris, Game drives

From R 2,473 per night

The Orpen Kruger

Welverdiend, Bushbuckridge

Savanna biome · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Game drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 9,024 per night

Ziziphus River Lodge

Mjejane Game Reserve, Hectorspruit

Savanna biome · Hippopotamus, African elephant · Canoeing, Horse riding

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 14,000 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Serval

Hosts have recorded the Serval at stays in or beside Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

When to go, park by park

Here all yearEasiest viewing

Best months to visit each park where hosts record the Serval
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
Sabi Sand	Here	Here	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	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.

Best hours of the day

First and last hours of daylight. The Serval moves and hunts in the cool.
Midday, resting. Usually lying up in shade and hard to spot.
After dark, on a night drive. Where the reserve or park offers one.

Where to base yourself

Ways to look

Drive yourself

Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.

Where hosts record it

Kruger

Guided drives from a lodge

A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.

Where hosts record it

Sabi Sand

Species

Leptailurus serval

Records

449

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the Serval on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the Serval in Mpumalanga?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Serval at stays in or beside Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand Game Reserve. 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 Serval in South Africa?

The Serval is most recorded in Gauteng (26% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (20% of records), Mpumalanga (18% of records), based on 449 iNaturalist observations. 13 places to stay on Spekboom in Mpumalanga have recorded the Serval on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Serval?

The Serval 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; Sabi Sand Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep optimal. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.

What is the Serval?