Cheetahs and leopards are both spotted cats, and first-time safari guests often mix them up. Once you know what to look for, they are easy to tell apart. They also live very different lives: one built for speed on the open plains, the other for strength and stealth.
Cheetah vs leopard at a glance
| Cheetah | Leopard | |
|---|---|---|
| Swahili | Duma | Chui |
| Spots | Solid, round black spots | Rosettes: rings with a darker centre |
| Face | Black “tear marks” from eyes to mouth | No tear marks |
| Build | Slim, long legs, small head, deep chest | Stocky, muscular, large head |
| Weight | About 35–65 kg | About 30–90 kg |
| Claws | Semi-retractable, used for grip when running | Fully retractable |
| Hunting | By day, with a high-speed chase | Mostly at night, by stalking and ambush |
| Trees | Rarely climbs high | Excellent climber; stores kills in trees |
| Habitat | Open plains | Woodland, rivers, rocky areas |
| Voice | Chirps and purrs; cannot roar | Rasping, saw-like call |
The cheetah
The fastest land animal on Earth, able to reach around 100–110 km/h in short bursts. A light frame, flexible spine, long legs and a long tail for balance make this possible. Cheetahs hunt by day, often in the morning and late afternoon, to avoid competition with lions and hyenas, which frequently steal their kills.
Look for cheetahs sitting upright on termite mounds or small rises, scanning for gazelles. Mothers with cubs are a special sighting.
The leopard
Leopards are powerful, secretive and adaptable. They hunt mostly at night by stalking close and pouncing. To protect their food from lions and hyenas, they drag kills into trees, sometimes prey heavier than themselves. By day, they often rest on branches, where a dangling tail may be the only clue.
Where to see cheetahs in Tanzania
- Southern Serengeti and Ndutu: open short-grass plains, especially during calving season.
- Eastern Serengeti around the Gol Kopjes.
- Central Serengeti plains near Seronera.
Where to see leopards in Tanzania
- Central Serengeti: the Seronera River’s sausage and acacia trees.
- Tarangire: riverine woodland.
- Ruaha: rocky hills and riverbanks.
- Ngorongoro Crater rim forest, occasionally.
Tips for spotting both
- For cheetahs, scan termite mounds and open plains early in the day.
- For leopards, look up into trees and check for tails and kills.
- Watch the reactions of gazelles, impalas and baboons, whose alarm calls give cats away.
- Stay patient. A resting cat can suddenly start to hunt.
Plan a big cat safari
For cheetahs, Calving Season, Ndutu is hard to beat. For leopards and lions, Serengeti & Crater spends time in Seronera. Read about the Big Five, the serval and tigers in Africa.
Frequently asked questions
Look at the face and spots. Cheetahs have solid black spots and black ‘tear marks’ from the eyes to the mouth. Leopards have rosettes and no tear marks.
The cheetah, by far. It is the fastest land animal, reaching around 100–110 km/h in short bursts.
The leopard. It is heavier and more muscular and can haul prey heavier than itself into a tree.
