Serval
ServalServalServalServal

Serval

Leptailurus serval

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Masai Mara National Reserve
84 Verified records at Masai Mara National Reserve
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's active Active throughout day and night

The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a wild small cat native to Africa. It is widespread in sub-Saharan countries, where it inhabits grasslands, wetlands, moorlands and bamboo thickets. Across its range, it occurs in protected areas, and hunting it is either prohibited or regulated in range countries. It is the sole member of the genus Leptailurus. Three subspecies are recognised. The serval is a slender, medium-sized cat that stands 54–62 cm (21–24 in) tall at the shoulder and has a weight range of approximately 9–18 kg (20–40 lb). Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Serval sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 84 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Masai Mara National Reserve

Lion
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

70–80% · Very likely
Cheetah
VU

Cheetah

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Acinonyx jubatus

60–70% · Likely
Leopard
VU Endemic

Leopard

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera pardus

40–50% · Likely
African Wildcat
LC

African Wildcat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Felis lybica

Insufficient data
Caracal
LC

Caracal

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Caracal caracal

Insufficient data
Spotted Hyena
LC

Spotted Hyena

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Crocuta crocuta

60–70% · Likely
Banded Mongoose
LC

Banded Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mungos mungo

40–50% · Likely
Common Dwarf Mongoose
LC

Common Dwarf Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Helogale parvula

20–30% · Possible
Bat-eared Fox
LC

Bat-eared Fox

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Otocyon megalotis

10–20% · With luck
Slender Mongoose

Slender Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Galerella sanguinea

5–10% · With luck
White-tailed Mongoose
LC

White-tailed Mongoose

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ichneumia albicauda

5–10% · With luck
Marsh Mongoose
LC

Marsh Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Atilax paludinosus

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
20–30
Feb
10–20
Mar
20–30
Apr
10–20
May
10–20
Jun
20–30
Jul
20–30
Aug
20–30
Sep
30–40
Oct
40–50
Nov
30–40
Dec

☀️🌙 When They're Spotted

Active throughout day and night · across all parks (global)

☀️🌙Day & Night
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
30–40%
2 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
30–40%
3 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
30–40%
4 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
20–30%
5 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
20–30%
6 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
20–30%
7 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
10–20%
8 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
10–20%
9 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
10 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
11 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
12 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
5–10%
13 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
14 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
5–10%
15 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
5–10%
16 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
17 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
18 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Insufficient data
19 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
20 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
21 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
22 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
Insufficient data
23 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
24 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
25 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
26 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
Insufficient data
27 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
28 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
Insufficient data
29 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Serval in Masai Mara National Reserve?

About 26% of wildlife watchers report a Serval sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 84 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Serval in Masai Mara National Reserve?

November has the highest sighting rate for Serval in Masai Mara National Reserve in our monthly data.

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