The leopard (Panthera pardus) /ˈlɛpərd/ is one of the five species in the genus Panthera, a member of the Felidae. The leopard occurs in a wide range in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia and is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because leopard populations are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, and are declining in large parts of the global range.

Wildlife

Leopard

Q: What is the conservation status of the Leopard?

The Leopard (Panthera pardus) is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Panthera pardusVulnerable

The leopard (Panthera pardus) /ˈlɛpərd/ is one of the five species in the genus Panthera, a member of the Felidae.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordLeopard8 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

Records3,721 records

Curve from 3,721 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.

Where you'll find it

Mpumalanga and beyond

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

3,720 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Leopard

7 places
Kgalagadi Transfrontier ParkNorthern Cape · Best Aug to Oct
7 places

Places to stay

8 results in the Northern Cape

Grootkolk Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Leopard recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Springbok

From R 2,634 per night

Bitterpan Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Leopard recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Camel thorn · Stargazing, 4x4 trails

From R 2,634 per night

Motswedi Camp Site

Mokala National Park

Leopard recorded here · Savanna biome · 1 bird recorded · African elephant, Brown hyena · Game drives

From R 628 per night

Kieliekrankie Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Leopard recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Camel thorn, Gemsbok · Stargazing

From R 2,634 per night

Nossob Rest Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Leopard recorded here · Savanna biome · Gemsbok, Brown hyena

From R 450 per night

Gharagab Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Leopard recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Giraffe · Stargazing, 4x4 trails

From R 2,634 per night

Kalahari Tented Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Leopard recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Springbok · Stargazing

From R 2,314 per night

Urikaruus Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Leopard recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Springbok · Stargazing

From R 2,634 per night

More stays nearby

Frontier River Resort

Northern Cape

Desert biome · Spekboom · Canoeing

From R 2,050 per night

Twee Rivieren Rest Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Savanna biome · Gemsbok, Camel thorn

From R 450 per night

Sendelingsdrif Rest Camp

Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

Desert biome · Halfmens, Quiver tree · 4x4 trails

From R 311 per night

Mata-Mata Rest Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Savanna biome · Gemsbok, Camel thorn

From R 450 per night

Kokerboomkloof Camp Site

Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

Succulent Karoo biome · Quiver tree, Spekboom · Stargazing, 4x4 trails

From R 311 per night

Skilpad Rest Camp

Namaqua National Park

Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom · Stargazing, Hiking

From R 953 per night

Mosu Lodge

Mokala National Park

Savanna biome · Camel thorn, Spekboom

From R 1,401 per night

Tankwa Karoo Rest Camp

Tankwa Karoo National Park

Succulent Karoo biome · Gemsbok, Springbok · Stargazing, 4x4 trails

From R 192 per night

Augrabies Falls Rest Camp

Augrabies Falls National Park

Nama-Karoo biome · 2 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Giraffe · Hiking

From R 362 per night

Lilydale Rest Camp

Mokala National Park

Savanna biome · Baobab, Mopane · Stargazing, Guided walk

From R 1,206 per night

Elandsberg Rest Camp

Tankwa Karoo National Park

Succulent Karoo biome · 1 bird recorded · Spekboom

From R 1,741 per night

De Hoop Camping Site

Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

Fynbos biome · Gemsbok, Springbok · Stargazing, 4x4 trails

From R 373 per night

Richmond Rooms

Richmond

Nama-Karoo biome · Spekboom

From R 1,230 per night

The Apollis Cottage

Concordia, Springbok

Succulent Karoo biome · Springbok, Spekboom · Stargazing

From R 1,700 per night

Mooifontein Farm

Colesberg

Nama-Karoo biome · Spekboom

From R 1,300 per night

Rooikloof Guest Farm

Sutherland

Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom · Stargazing, Scenic drives

From R 1,600 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Leopard

Hosts have recorded the Leopard at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

When to go, park by park

Here all yearEasiest viewing

Best months to visit each park where hosts record the Leopard
Park	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Kgalagadi	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	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

After dark and around dawn. The Leopard is mostly active at night, so a night drive gives the best chance.
Daytime, resting. Usually out of sight in cover, a burrow or water.

Ways to look

Drive yourself

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

Where hosts record it

Kgalagadi

IUCN Red List

Vulnerable

Species

Panthera pardus

Records

3 720

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

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

Which parks and reserves are best for the Leopard in Northern Cape?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Leopard at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier 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 in South Africa?

The Leopard is most recorded in Mpumalanga (50% of records), Limpopo (20% of records), Western Cape (16% of records), based on 3 720 iNaturalist observations. 8 places to stay on Spekboom in Northern Cape have recorded the Leopard on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Leopard?

The Leopard 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. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.

What is the conservation status of the Leopard?