Two spotted cats with very different lives.
Leopards and cheetahs are often confused. Cheetahs are slender sprinters of open plains, while leopards are stocky, secretive climbers that hunt from cover.
Quick FactsBlack tear lines, solid spots, built for speed.
Rosette markings, powerful build, often in trees.
Open plains such as Serengeti and Mara.
Woodland, rocky areas, many parks.
A cheetah has a small head, long legs and distinct black lines from eye to mouth. A leopard has a broader head, shorter legs and rosette-shaped marks.
Cheetahs chase prey over short distances at high speed in daylight. Leopards stalk and ambush, often at night, and haul kills into trees.
Cheetahs: Serengeti, Maasai Mara. Leopards: Samburu, Serengeti, Queen Elizabeth.
Sightings need patience and a good guide. See lion facts.
Frequently Asked QuestionsRosettes and stocky build for leopards; tear lines and slim build for cheetahs.
Open plains like Serengeti and Mara.
Often, as they are secretive.
Occasionally, but they are not natural climbers.
The Great Migration and Africa’s most famous open plains. Plan a luxury Serengeti safari with Ameera Africa Safaris.
Explore →The Great Migration’s dramatic river crossings and exceptional lion density. Plan a Maasai Mara safari with Ameera Africa Safaris.
Explore →Species found nowhere else in Kenya, in a genuinely arid northern landscape. Plan a Samburu safari with Ameera Africa Safaris.
Explore →Africa’s most social big cat, and a safari highlight.
Explore →Tell us your dates and interests and we will design the route around you.
