Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
41 places
Wildlife
African Wild Cat
Felis lybica
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
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
Records498 records
Curve from 498 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
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 South Africa
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 8,380a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
African Wild Cat recorded here
The Orpen Kruger
Kruger National Park
From R 9,024a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point
Kruger National Park
Price on request
African Wild Cat recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Marataba Mountain Lodge
Marakele National Park
Price on request
African Wild Cat recorded here
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area
From R 680a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Cederberg - Kliphuis
Cederberg Wilderness Area
From R 180a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Lion Sands Tinga Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
African Wild Cat recorded here
Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,990a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Algeria Cottages
Cederberg Wilderness Area
From R 1,990a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Marataba Safari Lodge
Marakele National Park
Price on request
African Wild Cat recorded here
Kingfisher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,500a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Flamingo Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,430a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Lion Sands Narina Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
African Wild Cat recorded here
Oystercatcher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,430a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Sandpiper Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,430a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Hinkwenu Villa, Lion Sands
Kruger National Park
Price on request
African Wild Cat recorded here
The Drakensberg
Next stop
Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air
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, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park and Cederberg Wilderness Area.
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| 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 |
| uKhahlamba-Drakensberg | 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.
Where to base yourself
Limpopo
Kruger · Marakele
LimpopoBig FiveSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
Western Cape
Cederberg Wilderness Area · Rocherpan · Agulhas
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi · Ai-Ais/Richtersveld · Mokala
Northern CapeSelf-driveStays in Northern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg · Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
KwaZulu-NatalBig FiveStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
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 South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Wild Cat at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Cederberg Wilderness Area, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Addo Elephant National Park and Marakele National Park and other reserves. 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. 109 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa 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; uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Cederberg Wilderness Area: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; 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 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.