WHY THESE ARE THE TOP 3 PLACES TO SEE LEOPARD

Everyone wants to see a leopard on safari. Why? Because they’re mysterious, elusive, beautiful, powerful, solitary and command attention. But their habits require specific habitats so we’ve rounded up the three places where we’ve had the most memorable leopard sightings of our lives.

What’s covered in this guide

Explore the highlights of this post with ease by using the table of contents below to navigate to sections of interest.

Greater Kruger
South Luangwa
Okavango Delta

Greater Kruger

Why: The Greater Kruger area is made up of private game reserves that have dropped their fences with the Kruger National Park so game can move freely. A perfect combination of fertile soil and plentiful rainfall creates an environment of dense thicket and tall trees – idyllic leopard territory.

This, together with very successful conservation efforts, means that reserves like the Sabi Sands and Timbavati have the highest density of leopards in the world. Many are known by the guides and rangers by name, and their lives, territories, rivalries and cubs are documented by conservationists.

Because this is a fairly small area with many roads and lots of guides who constantly communicate with each other, it is generally fairly ‘easy’ to find leopard – with no guarantees, of course. Their territories are well known and some lodges even have ‘resident’ leopard.

Another boon is that guides are allowed to undertake night drives and go off-road, within reason. Since leopards are often secluded and tend to be more active at night, enjoying the benefits of being out after dark and being able to drive a short distance off the road enhances the chance of sightings. Researchers estimate that there are about 12 leopards per 100km² / 62mi² in the Sabi Sands area alone.

Your first safari or trip to Africa. Logistics, infrastructure, communications and medical backup are the best in the industry.
Younger children or older relatives. Distances to airports are shorter and lodges have more facilities for guests of all ages and needs.
An affordable splurge. Superb lodges can be had at very good rates depending on the prevailing South African rand (ZAR) exchange rate.

South Luangwa

WHY THESE ARE THE TOP 3 PLACES TO SEE LEOPARD

Repeat client Dr Paul Brower at Puku Ridge.

Country: Zambia

Why: South Luangwa’s nickname is ‘the valley of the leopard’ for good reason: after Greater Kruger, this national park in Zambia has the second highest density of leopards in the world. Again, a combination of ideal habitat and a commitment to conservation has preserved South Luangwa’s leopard population (at least a third of Zambia’s total land mass is under official protection of some sort).

Researchers estimate that at least 250 leopards live in the valley, possibly more as off-roading and night drives are not permitted in the national park and so there could be ‘unknown’ leopards – a tantalizing thought!

Repeat client Dr Paul Brower at Puku Ridge.

South Luangwa is good for:

A return trip to Africa for a safari. Once you ‘know the ropes’ and have ticked off the Big 5 in Greater Kruger, you’ll be primed to venture into more remote areas.
Walkers and trekkers. If you are a fit hiker, then a walking safari in the midyear dry season is one of the most exciting vacations you can ever have. Encountering a leopard on foot – under the protection of your armed guide and armed Zambian Department of National Parks and Wildlife ranger – is a humbling and awe-inspiring moment.
Records suggest 471 species have been spotted in the park, making it a twitcher’s paradise.

Okavango Delta

Why: The Okavango Delta is one of nature’s masterpieces: the world’s largest inland wetland that is bordered by semi-desert and that counterintuitively floods during the dry season when the rain stops. Understanding it in as art but fortunately many of our team have lived and worked in Botswana.

Like Greater Kruger and South Luangwa, the Delta’s incredible mosaic of rivers, riverine forest, tall trees and clumps of thicket all make for iconic leopard territory. Throw in plenty of grazers and you have a Panthera pardus paradise…

Again, strong conservation efforts like anti-poaching patrols, year-round research and habitat preservation have provided a lifeline for the Okavango’s thriving leopard population.

Because it is so big (many, many times bigger than both Greater Kruger and South Luangwa), leopards tend to stick more densely forested areas with bigger trees like Moremi Game Reserve and Chief’s Island. Botswana is known for excellent guiding and tracking, making finding leopards exciting and rewarding.

The Okavango Delta is good for:

Seasoned safari goers who want to splurge a little. Some of Botswana’s best lodges can be found here with exclusivity coming at a premium.
While Greater Kruger and South Luangwa also offer outstanding photographic opportunities, Botswana delivers in spades.
Water lovers. Leopards are averse to water and won’t willingly swim unless they have to but for humans the Delta offers wonderful boating and mokoro rides (the Luangwa river in South Luangwa is too unpredictable for water activities and Kruger offers very limited boating and no canoeing).

Kirkman’s Kamp in Greater Kruger
Lebala Camp in the Okavango Delta
Puku Ridge in South Luangwa National Park

Written By Angela Aschmann

I’ve been privileged to see legendary leopards across East and Southern Africa – here I was photographing a young female at King’s Camp in Timbavati, a private reserve in the Greater Kruger. If you want to spot a leopard, look for the tell-tale tail hanging down from a branch and always look up on a game drive!

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