Hunting Leopard in Africa

Pursuing the Majestic Leopard in the African Wilderness

When hunting the big five African game animals, the leopard remains a firm favorite of dangerous game hunters worldwide. The leopard is considered an exceptional trophy and remains one of the most popular cats to target during a game hunting safari.

The leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the Big 5 hunted in Africa, along with the lion, rhino, elephant, and Cape buffalo. The Dangerous 7 include the Big 5, Nile crocodile, and the rhinoceros. Hunting and harvesting any of these magnificent animals remains extremely difficult and is often seen as a rite of passage for seasoned hunters during a hunting safari.

The leopard’s home and habitat range from grasslands and savannahs to dense vegetation and mountainous terrain, but they thrive best in large expanses with plenty of prey. Being nocturnal, they spend most of their days resting and camouflaging in caves, bushes, or up trees, and you can consider yourself lucky should you spot them during daylight hours. Countries such as Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Mozambique remain popular choices for hunting leopards in Africa.

Their diet consists of numerous prey options, depending on what is available. A leopard is an opportunistic hunter who will feast on whichever prey is abundant at the time and quite capable of killing prey larger than themselves. Depending on season and what is in abundance, a leopard’s diet can include:

Fish
Reptiles
Baboons
Warthogs
Antelope such as impala, springbok, and wildebeest

When hunting Big Five African animals (leopard hunting) and comparing the leopard with other big game, you will note that they are exceptional and cunning hunters, taking down prey between 40-175 pounds with ease. Leopards are nocturnal and do most of their hunting at night while spending the daylight hours resting and sleeping.

Their hunting technique involves getting as close to the prey as possible by ambushing or stalking it. Once the leopard is close enough to its target, it gives chase at an impressive speed of up to 37 miles per hour before silencing it with a bite to the neck area.

Leopards are very athletic and have an extraordinary climbing ability, which they use to carry their prey to trees and store it, to avoid scavengers such as hyenas and even lions.

AT A GLANCE

Name:
Panthera Padres

Male Weight:
80-165 Pounds

Male Shoulder Height:
28 in

Range:
Sub-Saharan Africa

Habitat:
Grasslands, Savannahs, Dense Vegetation and Mountainous Terrain

Mating Season:
Once a Year, No Definite Breeding Season

Life span:
12-17 Years

Hunting leopard in africa

Pursuing Africa’s Apex Predator in the Wild

Size and Appearance 

When hunting leopards in Africa, remember that these large cats are very calculating and can camouflage themselves extremely well due to their coloring which allows them to simply blend into the surrounding bush. The leopard is part of the cat family and is large with tawny or cream fur marked with evenly spaced solid black spots. Its head is quite small and rounded with a small, short snout. This member of the Big 5 has a distinctive marking of black tear-like shapes that run down its face. The leopard is an exceptionally agile and athletic animal and easily jumps into and climbs trees and descends a tree headfirst with ease. It is also one of the only cats that like water, and they are confident swimmers. The adult male leopard weighs 80-165 pounds and reaches approximately 26-37 inches at its shoulder, while the head-to-body length is 39-59 inches. Females weigh in slightly lighter at 46-132 pounds.

Hunting Methods 

Your game hunt for this elusive night predator can involve various methods including stalking, baiting, and hounds. Different methods are utilized depending on local regulations, the hunter’s experiences, wishes, and conservation laws. Walking and tracking the leopard, then taking a shot from a distance away, is a popular method when hunting leopards in Africa. When on a hunting safari targeting leopards, another hunting method is baiting. This involves a carcass placed in an area where leopards have been seen or known to frequent and then waiting for the animal to approach the carcass and then taking the shot. Lastly, hounds can track and corner the leopard while the hunter takes the shot.

MASTERING SHOT PLACEMENT FOR AFRICAN CATS 

Available Leopard hunts

Hunt Tanzania: Full Bag 21 Day Safari Lunda Nkwambi GCA

Tanzania

Hunting Categories:African Cats , African Plains Game , Dangerous Game , Exotic Plains Game , Large Antelope

Species:African Crocodile , Cape buffalo , Coke's Hartbeest , Elephant , Gazelle - Grant's , Hippo , Leopard , Lichtenburg Hartebeest , Lion , Puku

Hunt Preferences:Family Friendly

Hunters and PH/Guides On Hunt:x1 Hunter x1 Dangerous Game PH

Booking Season:2025/2026

Destinations:Tanzania

Languages Spoken:English

Hunting Methods:Black Powder Hunting , Rifle hunting , Walk & Stalk

Hunt Difficult:Difficult

$79999 for 20 days

Hunting Leopard in Africa

Pursuing the Majestic Leopard in the African Wilderness

AT A GLANCE

Hunting leopard in africa

Size and Appearance

Hunting Methods

Challenges and Rewards

Rifles and Requirements

MASTERING SHOT PLACEMENT FOR AFRICAN CATS

Available Leopard hunts

Hunt Tanzania: Full Bag 21 Day Safari Lunda Nkwambi GCA

Zimbabwe Hunting Safari in Zambezi Valley Leopard or Cape Buffalo

Leopard Hunting Safari x 12 Days in Namibia

Leopard hunting in Mozambique plus Cape Buffalo in Niassa

Leopard Hunting in Namibia plus 2 x Tiny Ten 14 Days

African Buffalo Hunt & Leopard 14 Days Selous Reserve

Zambia Hunting Safari, Trophy Leopard in Nkala GMA

Botswana Hunting Safari, Hunt Trophy Elephant & Leopard

Leopard hunting 14 Days in the Heart of Namibia

Leopard Hunt Fully Exportable 14 Days in Namibia

Leopard Hunting 12 Days of Action in Save Valley, Zimbabwe

Leopard Hunting with Hounds in Botswana

Leopard hunting in Moz, plus Sable & Niassa Wildebeest

Zambia Hunting Safari, big Leopards & Buffalo in Rufunsa

14 Day Leopard and Plains Game Hunting in Tanzania

Hunt Zambia 21 Days – Lion, Leopard, Cape Buffalo & PG

Cape Buffalo Hunt Zambezi Valley in Zambia 8 x Nights

Hunt Tanzania, 14 Day Leopard Safari in the Jewel of Africa

Cancellation Hunt in Tanzania, Lunda Nkwambi Trophy Fees Included

Leopard Hunting in “Untamed” Niassa Province, Mozambique

Leopard hunting in Zimbabwe 14 x Days in Matetsi Unit 2

Leopard Hunting Trip, Big Cats in Bushmanland Botswana

Trophy Leopard Hunting in Namibia 14 x Days in Khomas Region

15 Day Leopard Hunting Safari in Niassa, Mozambique

Leopard & Cape Buffalo Hunt,14 days in Mozambique 1x Hunter

Elephant Hunting in Botswana plus Leopard & Buffalo 1:1

Hunt in Mozambique Lion, Leopard & Buffalo Exportable to US

Dangerous Game Hunting in the Selous: Elephant, Leopard & Lion

Leopard Hunting in Namibia & Brown Hyena Cancelation Hunt

Cancellation Leopard Hunt in Namibia’s Famous Bushmanland District

Leopard Hunting in Mozambique, Niassa Province

Dangerous Game Hunting, Leopard & More in Selous Reserve

Tanzania Hunting Safari With Leopard & Lion in the Selous

14 Days Leopard Hunting in Namibia with a Kudu & Springbok

Leopard Hunting in Zimbabwe plus 7 x Plains Game Trophies

Dangerous Game Hunting, Leopard and Cape Buffalo in Botswana

Leopard Hunting in Zimbabwe 14 x Days in Hwange

Hunting in Mozambique, Leopard, Lion and Buffalo

Zimbabwe Hunting Safari “Full Bag” in Zambezi Valley

21 Day Leopard and Lion Hunt in Tanzania, Rungwa River

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Embark on your hunting journey with confidence, guided by Game Hunting Safaris – where every adventure is a story waiting to be written, and every hunt is an experience like no other.

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Embark on your hunting journey with confidence, guided by Game Hunting Safaris – where every adventure is a story waiting to be written, and every hunt is an experience like no other.

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Size and Appearance 

Hunting Methods 

Challenges and Rewards 

MASTERING SHOT PLACEMENT FOR AFRICAN CATS 