9 Leopard

RANGE: across sub-saharan Less than 14,000 African leopards and Asia. live THE EXPERIENCE: It’s hard to keep quiet as the desiccated detritus of mopane and acacia crackles underfoot; your eyes naturally flick back to the armed guard bringing up the rear. Then they point to a tree and you see a leopard in the branches, freshly killed impala beneath its paws. The animal glares, sniffs, shifts, then inches down the trunk and disappears into the grass. Fleeting but magical.

NEED TO KNOW: Leopards are elusive; seeing one while on foot (only permitted in a handful of areas) is a rare privilege. More likely is a sighting from a safari vehicle, so try to visit reserves where animals are used to humans, otherwise they flee quickly. As the cats are nocturnal, choose areas where night drives are permitted (although these aren’t allowed in Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park). An expert tracker/guide is key; they’ll know popular cat hangouts and can read bush signals, such as monkey warning calls.

BEST PLACE TO SEE… In Africa, sightings are possible year-round, though are easier later in the dry season (Mar–nov) when the trees have fewer leaves and the grass has died back. Top spots are South Luangwa NP, Zambia, which is famous for its guided walking safaris; Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa, which has a high density of habituated cats; and the Okavango Delta in Botwana, especially its Moremi Game Reserve.

In Asia, Sri Lanka’s excellent Yala NP virtually guarantees sightings, though is best when water levels are low (Feb–jul), while leopard numbers are rising fast in India’s Aravalli Range; visit Jawai in southern Rajasthan for good sightings.

Spotted! A leopard scans the African savannah for antelope from on high