Africa is the most popular wildlife tourism destination in the world due to its wide array of large, charismatic animals and rich biodiversity overall. Of all the incredible creatures that call Africa home, there is one group that stands out above all and draws in more tourists than any other: the "big cats".
Big cats are apex predators wherever they occur. They inspire a sense of amazement, awe, and sometimes fear in anyone who sees them in their natural habitat. They are the epitome of strength, speed, and power and have inspired human cultures, stories, and myths across the world for thousands of years.
Africa has three big cat species: lion (Panthera leo), leopard (Panthera pardus), and cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). Although they were historically widespread across the continent, they have disappeared from huge chunks of their original range, especially in West and Northern Africa, due to conflict with humans, loss of habitat, and loss of prey.
Most remaining substantial big cat populations on the continent are found in East and Southern Africa. The same is true for many of Africa's other charismatic wildlife species. The majority of Africa's major wildlife tourism destinations are found in these two regions, and this is where we will focus in this article as we share our top picks of the best places to see big cats in Africa.
The places listed below are by no means a comprehensive list. Lions, leopards, and cheetahs are found in very many national parks, reserves, conservancies, and other wilderness areas. This list is simply a selection of the very best places to see these African big cats.
Think of these as the places you would have the highest chances of seeing them if you were to spend just one full day (2 nights) searching for them. This, however, does not mean you are totally guaranteed to see them, as these are wild animals and they are therefore unpredictable.
The lists below are written in no particular order.
1. Lion
The lion is perhaps the most famous animal on the planet. Regardless of where you live in the world, you probably know what a lion is and what it looks like. And you have probably heard of it referred to as "king of the beasts" or "king of the jungle."
It is an animal that many people would love to see out in the wild, and it should be no surprise then that it is the number one tourist attraction among all African animals. Rarely will you meet someone on their first African safari who does not have the lion at the top of their list of animals they want to see.
In prehistoric times, the lion was found throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. More recently, outside of Africa, it occurred in southeastern Europe and southern Asia. Today, It is only found in Sub-Saharan Africa and a the Gir Forest in India.
Here are the best places to see lions in Africa:
Best Safari Destinations To See Lions In East Africa
- Tanzania
- Northern Tanzania Safari Circuit - Serengeti National Park, Ndutu Conservation Area, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park
- Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
- Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve), Tanzania
- Kenya
- Masai Mara - includes the Masai Mara National Reserve, Mara Triangle, and the various conservancies
- Laikipia Plateau - several private conservancies
- Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
- Amboseli National Park
- Nairobi National Park
- Samburu National Reserve
- Tsavo East National Park
- Uganda
- Murchison Falls National Park
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Kidepo Valley National Park
Best Safari Destinations To See Lions In Southern Africa
- South Africa
- Greater Kruger - Kruger National Park and the various private reserves bordering it to the west
- Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa
- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (shared with Botswana)
- Botswana
- Northern Botswana - Okavango Delta, Chobe, Savuti, Mababe/Mokete, Linyanti
- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (shared with South Africa)
- Central Kalahari Game Reserve
- Zambia
- South Luangwa National Park
- Lower Zambezi National Park
- Kafue National Park - especially in the Busanga Plains region of the north
- Zimbabwe
- Hwange National Park
- Mana Pools National Park
- Namibia - Etosha National Park
2. Leopard
The leopard is the most widely distributed big cat in the world today. It occurs from the Cape of South Africa, through most of Africa, the Middle East, and southern Asia, all the way to northeastern China and southeastern Russia.
Although leopards prefer forests and woodlands, they are found in habitats as varied as tropical rainforests, savannas, rocky mountains, deserts, and even urban areas in some countries like India and Kenya (where they hunt dogs, cats, pigs, rats, and other animals in cities and people's compounds at night).
This high level of adaptability in the places leopards can live is largely thanks to their flexible diet. They are not choosy with their food and will eat pretty much anything they can overpower.
Despite being very widespread, they are often shy and like to remain hidden, making them much harder to spot on safari than lions. There is a saying that you only see a leopard when it allows you to see it.
In Africa, the following are the best places to see leopards on safari. A number of the leopards in these areas are used to tourists and therefore are relaxed enough for you to get close to them (in a vehicle) and even follow them as they hunt and go about their business:
Best Safari Destinations To See Leopards In East Africa
- Kenya
- Masai Mara - includes the Masai Mara National Reserve, Mara Triangle, and the various conservancies
- Samburu National Reserve
- Laikipia Wilderness Camp - most reliable place in Africa to see melanistic (black) leopard
- Tsavo West National Park
- Lake Nakuru National Park
- Tanzania
- Serengeti National Park
- Tarangire National Park
- Katavi National Park
- Uganda
- Lake Mburo National Park
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
Best Safari Destinations To See Leopards In Southern Africa
- South Africa
- Greater Kruger - especially the Sabi Sand and MalaMala Game Reserves
- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (shared with Botswana)
- Zambia
- South Luangwa National Park
- Lower Zambezi National Park
- Botswana
- Okavango Delta - especially Moremi Game Reserve
- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (shared with South Africa)
- Zimbabwe - Mana Pools National Park
3. Cheetah
The cheetah is the most specialized big cat in the world. Everything about its anatomy and biology is optimized for extreme speed. It is famous for being the fastest land animal in the world, clocking speeds of up to 120 km/h (75 mph). It needs wide open areas in order to unleash its lightning speed on unsuspecting prey, therefore cheetahs are only found in open grasslands, savanna, and deserts.
In prehistoric times, during the Pleistocene, the cheetah was distributed from Africa, through Asia to North America. But in more recent history it only occurred outside Africa in Arabia, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. Today, Iran is the only country where the Asiatic cheetah survives. In Africa, it is found across the continent (including the Sahara Desert) but at much lower densities than lions and leopards.
It is by far Africa's most endangered big cat. While there are an estimated 700,000 leopards and 20,000-30,000 lions in Africa, the cheetah population estimate sits at less than 7,000.
Here are our top picks for places to see cheetahs in Africa:
Best Safari Destinations To See Cheetahs In East Africa
- Kenya
- Masai Mara - includes the Masai Mara National Reserve, Mara Triangle, and the various conservancies
- Ol Pejeta Conservancy
- Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
- Amboseli National Park
- Tanzania
- Serengeti National Park
- Ndutu Conservation Area
- Tarangire National Park
- Ruaha National Park
Best Safari Destinations To See Cheetahs In Southern Africa
- Botswana
- Northern Botswana - Okavango Delta, Kwando, Selinda, Savuti
- Central Kalahari Game Reserve
- Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
- Nxai Pan National Park
- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (shared with South Africa)
- South Africa
- Shamwari Private Game Reserve
- Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
- Samara Karoo Reserve
- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (shared with Botswana)
- Namibia - Etosha National Park (Namibia has the largest cheetah population in Africa, but most of them are in privately-owned land rather than tourism areas)
- Zambia
- Kafue National Park - especially the Busanga Plains
- Liuwa Plain National Park
Which of the three African big cats do you want to see most or do you like seeing most on safari? And which destination is your favorite to see them?
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