Serengeti National Park Tanzania Large Mammals

A stealthy, solitary predator with a muscular build and rosetted coat that blends into shade and branches. In the Serengeti leopards are often seen alone at dusk or in trees with prey, using kopjes and riverine woodlands to ambush small to medium ungulates and avoid larger predators.

Medium-large cat with compact, muscular body, rosetted coat (clusters of darker spots around a lighter center), strong forequarters, and habit of dragging kills up into low trees or rocks; nocturnal/crepuscular activity common.

Common Confusions

• Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus Cheetahs have solid round spots and a slimmer build with tear stripes, while leopards have rosettes and stockier bodies.
• Jaguar Panthera onca Jaguars (not in Africa) have larger rosettes with central spots and a more robust skull; leopards in Africa are the local rosetted cat to expect.
• Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa Clouded leopards are Southeast Asian and have large cloud-like patterns; in Africa a spotted cat is almost always leopard or cheetah.
• Caracal Caracal caracal Caracals are much smaller with tufted ears and lack rosettes—look for size and ear tufts to separate them.
• Spotted Hyena (resting) Crocuta crocuta Hyenas are more heavily built, have sloping backs and different gait and vocalizations; fur pattern is patchy spots rather than rosettes.