Leopards are one of the most elusive big cats in Africa. They are known for their grace and agility, as well as their striking spots and distinctive rosette patterns. If you're a wildlife enthusiast and want to see these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat, there are several places in Africa where you can increase your chances of spotting them.

Here are our top three places to find leopards in Africa.

Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa

Sabi Sands Game Reserve, located adjacent to the world-famous Kruger National Park, is one of the best places in Africa to see leopards. The reserve has an incredibly high density of leopards, with estimates suggesting around 40 individuals per 100 square kilometres.

What makes leopard viewing in the Sabi Sands extra appealing is that the leopards in Sabi Sands are known for their relaxed behaviour around safari vehicles, making it easier for visitors to spend a prolonged time watching them in the wild. The best time to see leopards in Sabi Sand is during the dry season (May-September) when the vegetation is sparse, and the animals are more visible.

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

South Luangwa National Park is located in eastern Zambia and is known for its excellent wildlife sightings, including leopards. The park covers an area of over 9,000 square kilometres and has a diverse landscape that includes woodland, grassland, and riverine forest.

One of the unique features of South Luangwa is that the park allows night drives, which means visitors can see leopards when they are most active. The best time to visit South Luangwa for leopard sightings is during the dry season (June-October).

Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

The Maasai Mara National Reserve is one of Africa's most famous wildlife destinations and is home to an abundance of big cats, including leopards. The chances of seeing a leopard while in the Masai Mara is very good, and the trees and thickets surrounding both the Talek and Mara Rivers along the river provide ideal hiding spots for leopards during the day.

Leopards are elusive animals that can be challenging to spot in the wild. They are certainly the most challenging of the big 5 to find. However, visitors to either the Sabi Sands, South Luangwa or Masai Mara can be reasonably confident that with enough days on safari, they will spot this beautiful cat.

Our absolute number one destination is the Sabi Sands in terms of the reliability of leopard sightings and the guaranteed private nature of sightings due to strict conservancy rules around the number of vehicles at each sighting.