If you've ever dreamed of seeing a leopard in the wild, Kruger National Park is one of the best places in Africa to make it happen. These spotted cats are the most elusive members of the Big Five, masters of stealth, blending perfectly into the bush, and often moving like ghosts through the tall yellow-thatching grass. In this guide, we'll chat about how many leopards are in Kruger, where to spot them, what they get up to, and the best times of year to catch a glimpse.
Absolutely! Kruger National Park is one of the national parks where you can see them in their natural habitat. They are in healthy numbers, spread across the park's rivers, woodlands, rocky outcrops and savannas. But to find and spot them succesfully is not always easy, they are quite illusive, and mostly start moving when the sun sets.
Estimates suggest well over 1,000 leopards range across Kruger’s ~20,000 km². Because leopards are solitary and mostly nocturnal, exact counts are tough, but a long history of ranger records, camera-trap projects, and research confirms a healthy, stable population.
Focus on riverine bush, drainage lines, and koppies. Drive slowly at first light and late afternoon, and look up—a dangling tail in a jackalberry or sausage tree is a classic giveaway.
You can find leopards in Kruger all year:
Prime hours are early morning and late afternoon. Want to plan by season? See our guides to the best time to visit Kruger and Kruger National Park weather.
Join our expert guides for the best routes and timing to maximise leopard sightings.
