Leopard – leopards are the shyest of the big cats, preferring their own company and hanging out in bush during the day and only emerging in the late afternoon to hunt for dinner. Leopards  mostly hunt at night although they will seize any opportunity for a kill. The illusive leopard is found throughout the Kruger National Park and if you are lucky you will spot one, they prefer dense riverine forest – especially along the Sabie River – and rocky outcrops.

Cheetah – cheetah’s are lean and wily, built for speed and can run at speeds over 110 km/h. Cheetahs use their speed for hunting, catching their prey off-guard and then running at it, full-speed. They usually eat quickly because they cannot guard carcass against scavengers. The Central Kruger is the favorite spot for the fast cheetah with sightings in and around Lower Sabie and the Crocodile River.

Caracal – caracal’s are highly secretive and difficult to observe. They are territorial and live mainly alone or in pairs. The caracal is a carnivore that typically preys upon small mammals, birds and rodents. Caracal’s have a variety of habitats but this secretive creature prefers the open savanna where there are rocky outcrops.

How to behave when you meet a cat in Kruger:

Be very quite, human noise will disturb the cats.

In most reserves, animals have become habituated to the vehicles used – and their shape. So do not stand up or move your arms and legs out of the vehicle, as this will frighten the animals and may result in them retreating or attacking.

Never try to interfere with the animals you encounter. This includes trying to change their behavior or position for a good photo shot and feeding them.

Please contact us if you would like some more information on visiting the Kruger National Park or some sample packages showing how this destination can be incorporated into a package.

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