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15 September 20255 INCREDIBLE PLACES TO SEE LEOPARDS IN THE WILD
Leopards, with their elusive nature and mesmerising spotted coats, are among the most sought-after big cats for wildlife enthusiasts. Unlike lions and cheetahs, leopards are solitary, stealthy and masters of camouflage. This makes it an even greater reward spotting them in the wild. Also unlike lions or cheetahs, leopards can also be found on other continents as Africa, like Asia in countries like India and Sri Lanka.
Their beautiful coats also make them a massive target species for wildlife photographers, even though it takes great patience to get a good photograph of a leopard as they can be very shy.
If you find yourself dreaming of seeing one of these magnificent cats in their natural habitat then keep reading as this blog will cover the 5 best places to see leopards in the wild.
Sabi Sands, South Africa
The Sabi Sands borders the famed Kruger National Park, and through many years of conservation and responsible tourism have made the leopards here less shy, giving photographers and safari-goers an incredible opportunity to get up close to these animals on game drives and unparalleled chances to witness behaviours like hunting, tree climbing or even the interaction between mother and cub.
The Sabi Sands is also a private reserve with lots of policies and one of these policies is to restrict the amount of vehicles at a leopard sighting giving the leopard amble space to continue with its natural behaviour.
The Sabi Sands has a very high density of predators and this often brings about exciting leopard viewing as they interact with lions or hyenas or even other leopards.
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Mala mala, south africa
Mala Mala is a private reserve within the Sabi Sands, yes a private reserve within a private reserve, even though this might not make sense to you straight away, all you need to read out of this is maximum exclusivity. Mala Mala is the largest property in terms of acres within the Sabi Sands region and has the longest Sand River frontage of any property. This is crucial as the leopard of the Sabi Sands often spend a lot of time close to this river making this property prime.
Mala Mala also has no limited when it comes to amount of time spent with animals so you could spend the entire day with a leopard and even follow it off-road, this is something that is truly special and almost unheard of.
If leopards are the animals you most desperately want to see than you should honestly look no further than Mala Mala. Because the guides can off-road here you can get extremely close to these cats which makes for great close up photography.
Okavango Delta, Botswana
When you take into consideration the terrain and habitat as well as the abundance of prey species found in the Okavango Delta it doesn't come as a surprise that there is a very healthy population of leopards in this area.
What would further excite wildlife enthusiasts is because there are so many predators in this area leopards often have encounters with other predator species, which makes for really interesting behaviour viewing. For example it is not uncommon to see a hyena at the base of a tree when there is a leopard with its kill in the tree.
The Okavango Delta is also one of the few places where these cats don't have another option but to wade through water streams during the wet season. This makes for incredible and unique photos.
Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia
Lower Zambezi is arguably the most scenic destination to see leopards in, in the whole of Africa. Within the eastern parts of the park you get the breathtaking winterthorn forest. This can be seen in the background of the image below and makes for not just a beautiful background but the perfect habitat for leopards.
The Zambezi River flows through the park and leopards are often seen walking on the banks of this mighty river, especially in the early morning or late afternoon.
Another massive plus for Lower Zambezi will be the fact that it never feels crowded with too many vehicles. It is not uncommon to be the only vehicle in a leopard sighting.
Laikipia, Northern Kenya
Laikipia is most likely the most talked about safari destination within the last two years and that is mainly because of the now world famous black leopard, Giza (below left photo). Black leopards are not a separate species but a colour variation of the common leopard. Their black coats are caused by a genetic mutation that leads to an overproduction of melanin, the pigment responsible for dark coloration.
What makes Laikipia special though is not just Giza but the fact that this (black leopard gene) is found in quite a view individuals in this area, yes this means there are more than just the one black leopard in this area, but Giza is the only black leopard that are comfortable with safari vehicles around her.
Apart from these very elusive black leopards there are also a decent amount of common leopards around, and this is why Laikipia will make our list of best places to see leopard. So go to this destination in search for common leopards and other unique species found in this area like Grevy's Zebra, and you might just get lucky with a glimpse of a black leopard.
From the wetlands of the Okavango Delta to the lush bush of the Sabi Sands, these five destinations offer unforgettable encounters with one of nature's most elusive predators. Whether you are a seasonal traveler or a wildlife enthusiast, witnessing a leopard in the wild is a rare, thrilling experience you'll never forget!
I find purpose in educating people about wildlife and the most iconic wildlife destinations, as this contributes to conservation. Creating memories, chasing sunsets and building lasting relationships with like minded people is what fulfils me.