Of all the Big Five, the leopard is the one most visitors find hardest to see. It’s solitary, mostly active at night, and so well camouflaged that you can drive right past one resting in a tree. That’s exactly why a good leopard sighting feels like such a reward. Here’s where your chances are best in Uganda and across East Africa.
Getting to know the leopard
- Strength: leopards can haul a carcass heavier than themselves up into a tree, where it’s safe from lions and hyenas. A kill in a tree is often your first clue that a leopard is nearby.
- Size: males are much bigger than females, averaging around 58 kg against about 37 kg.
- Diet: incredibly flexible, from antelopes and monkeys to hares, birds and even fish.
- Timing: mostly active between sunset and sunrise, so early mornings, late afternoons and night drives are best.
Conservation status
The leopard is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. In Uganda, the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s 2026 report quotes a recent estimate of around 328 leopards in the country, down from much higher numbers in past decades. The main threats are habitat loss, retaliatory killing after livestock losses, snares and a shrinking prey base.
The best places in Uganda
- Murchison Falls National Park: a large camera-trap survey published in 2024 found about 14 leopards per 100 km² on the northern bank, among the highest leopard densities recorded in Africa. The Buligi game tracks and the riverine woodland are the places to look.
- Lake Mburo National Park: with no resident lions, the leopard is the top cat here. Lake Mburo is also one of the few Ugandan parks where you can do a ranger-led night game drive, which gives you a real chance of seeing leopards, hyenas and bushbabies.
- Queen Elizabeth National Park: leopards are seen in the Mweya and Kasenyi areas and around Ishasha, often in the thickets and along the Kazinga Channel.
- Kidepo Valley National Park: the rocky kopjes of the Narus Valley are classic leopard country, with very few other vehicles around.
Night drives in Uganda
The Uganda Wildlife Authority offers guided night game drives in several savanna parks, including Lake Mburo, Murchison Falls and Kidepo. A UWA guide is required, and night drives are generally restricted to guests staying inside the park, so where you sleep matters. Fees are charged per person and vary by park; we’ll confirm current rates when we book. Our night drives page has more on what to expect.
The East African classics
- Serengeti: the Seronera area, with its river valleys and big trees, has long been one of Africa’s best places for leopards.
- Maasai Mara: leopards along the rivers and luggas, and excellent guiding in the private conservancies.
- Samburu (Kenya) and Ruaha (Tanzania): drier parks where leopards often rest in the riverine trees.
Practical tips
- Look up. Scan big trees with spreading branches, especially a dangling tail.
- Listen. Alarm calls from monkeys, baboons and impala often give a leopard away.
- Be patient. If you find a leopard in a tree, wait. It may come down to hunt or feed.
- Stay a few nights. Two or three days in one good park gives far better odds than a rushed route.
- Pack a torch and warm layer for night drives, and keep flash photography to a minimum.
Where to stay for leopards
For night drives you need to sleep inside the park, so your lodge choice matters. In Lake Mburo, Rwakobo Rock and Mantana Tented Camp are comfortable mid-range options, Mihingo Lodge is a lovely splurge, and Eagle’s Nest suits a tighter budget. In Murchison Falls, lodges on the northern bank such as Pakuba Safari Lodge put you close to the Buligi tracks for early starts, while Paraa Safari Lodge, Baker’s Lodge and Nile Safari Lodge are good bases by the river. We’ll check which lodges qualify for night drives when we plan your route, and time your stays so you get at least one dawn and one after-dark outing in leopard country.
Plan it with us
A leopard is never guaranteed, but the right parks, lodges and timing make a big difference. Take a look at our guide to seeing the Big Five, then let us plan a route that gives you the best possible chance.
