Serval
ServalServalServalServal

Serval

Leptailurus serval

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Ngorongoro Conservation Area
121 Verified records at Ngorongoro Conservation Area
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 →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Serval sighting in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, based on 121 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Lion
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

60–70% · Likely
Cheetah
VU

Cheetah

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Acinonyx jubatus

30–40% · Possible
Leopard
VU Endemic

Leopard

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera pardus

20–30% · Possible
Caracal
LC

Caracal

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Caracal caracal

10–20% · With luck
African Wildcat
LC

African Wildcat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Felis lybica

Insufficient data
Spotted Hyena
LC

Spotted Hyena

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Crocuta crocuta

50–60% · Likely
African Golden Wolf
LC

African Golden Wolf

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis lupaster

40–50% · Likely
Banded Mongoose
LC

Banded Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mungos mungo

10–20% · With luck
Bat-eared Fox
LC

Bat-eared Fox

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Otocyon megalotis

10–20% · With luck
Northern Small-spotted Genet
LC

Northern Small-spotted Genet

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Genetta genetta

10–20% · With luck
Common Dwarf Mongoose
LC

Common Dwarf Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Helogale parvula

5–10% · With luck
Honey Badger
LC

Honey Badger

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Mellivora capensis

5–10% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
30–40
Feb
30–40
Mar
20–30
Apr
20–30
May
30–40
Jun
40–50
Jul
30–40
Aug
30–40
Sep
20–30
Oct
50–60
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 Ngorongoro Conservation Area?

About 34% of wildlife watchers report a Serval sighting in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, based on 121 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Serval in Ngorongoro Conservation Area?

November has the highest sighting rate for Serval in Ngorongoro Conservation Area in our monthly data.

← Back to Ngorongoro Conservation Area