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my family and I have been going to Kruger for the past 22 years, 3-4 times a year. we used to see lions every time we went into the Kruger, but sightings are becoming more and more rare! to the point- I will have to say it is far more easier to find and see leopard than cheetah. partly because there are so many of them, but also it depends on were you are in the park..we frequent the southern part of Kruger 99% of the time and the areas where the cheetah are "at home" we do not go to.. as it is open and not many animals like tp be seen by potential threats. so there will generally be less animals in that area..

So a definative answer: probability of seeing a cheetah: 10%-20%, where as sighting a leopard: 50%-60%


From the figures in the name of the blog, you are 10 times more likely to see a leopard than sighting a cheetah. given you are in the perfect habitat for both the animals at the same time...which will be almost impossible.

great topic though!!!!

From personal experience, we only saw leopards for the last almost 13 years visiting Kruger.

I gues it still al boils down to being at the right place at the right time.

Enjoy.

Welcome to the forums B. Hayden

I agree with the statistics that there are more leopards.

I have seen about equal numbers of cheetah and leopard.

I have never seen a leopard on a night drive though and can't wait for that first nocturnal leopard sighting.

Leopard and cheetah sightings are equal for me in the last 22 years also get there a few times a year, luck and patience is the name of the game. Most of the cats have a territory that they patrol, have seen the same leopard in the same area. From Marloth Park on day trips often able to see big 5 or 6 in a morning outing in the southern park. Do think lions seem to become less and less frequent. Can remember trips in early years when saw lions 5 or 6 times in one day. But yes any cat will do and briding does help see more of them. have stopped to look at a bird and a lion gets up from the long grass underneath the tree

Hi all, My 'Visitors Guide' to Kruger National Park booklet has a 2008 census, Cheetah 200 and leopard 1000. So this means the leopard population has doubled in 3/4 years? Impossible. So the chances of seeing cheetah has just increased 100%.I would say Wikipedia are sucking their thumb.

ps I must say that if the census was incorrect and the Leopard population was 2000 it would be wonderful.

Because of the elusive nature of leopards and their predominant nocturnal behavior it is difficult to establish the correct numbers of these cats.

If one considers their ability to adapt to different environments and prey species it is quite possible for the numbers to be much higher than what could be calculated in a census.

Bushbuck the 2008 census, undershot the number of leopard
There are wayyy more leopards in Kruger than 20 years ago say.

Someone just changed the numbers on wiki page! It now says 120 cheetahs, 2000 leopards, 1,500,000 impala etc etc

and it has changed once again! How do people know? I have not seen any new official data releases?!

The number of animals in the Park is constantly changing! My thinking is that the best we can do is what for the annual report to see what the census says for the year The precise number of each species is impossible to reach! But I do not doubt the ration of 10 leopard to every cheetah.
We know the leopard is elusive by nature. And we know the Kruger is more favorable leopard terrain than cheetah. Moreover, cheetah struggle to thrive in areas where hyena, leopard and lion can take the cheetah's food ... or even kill the cheetah.

Great forum, just discovered it. On our last trip to KNP, Nov 2011 we enjoyed 15 leopard sightings and 28 Cheetah sightings. Older cub with Impala kill.

Hi there,

We are panning our first trip to KNP in June 2013.

We have an 8 year old in the bakkie, driving all the way from Cape Town and we will not be camping.

If we have to stay 7 nights in KNP, where do you think we should stay? We would like to see Lions, Leopards and Cheetah.

thx

Great pic of the Leopard with Impi Kill.