The serval is a medium-sized wild cat with long legs, a small head and very large ears. It looks almost unreal the first time you see one in the grass. Servals are skilled hunters and a favourite sighting for many guests, partly because they are less common than lions or cheetahs.
Serval at a glance
| Scientific name | Leptailurus serval |
| Weight | About 9–18 kg |
| Habitat | Grassland, wetland edges, reed beds |
| Diet | Rodents, birds, frogs, insects, small reptiles |
| Active | Mostly early morning, evening and night |
| Best places | Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti |
Built for the grass
Longest legs of any cat for its size
Servals have very long legs relative to their bodies. This lets them see over tall grass and move quickly through it.
Satellite-dish ears
Their large ears pick up the sounds of rodents moving under the grass, even underground. A serval will often stand still, head tilted, listening before it pounces.
Spotted coat
The golden coat with black spots and stripes gives camouflage in grass. Some servals are almost entirely black, a colour form known as melanism.
How servals hunt
- Listen: the serval stands still and locates prey by sound.
- Pounce: it leaps high and comes down on the prey with its front feet.
- Strike: it may leap straight up to catch birds in flight.
Servals are often described as having one of the highest hunting success rates of any wild cat, catching prey on a large share of their attempts.
Behaviour
- Servals live alone, except for mothers with kittens.
- They mark territories with scent and scratches.
- They are mostly active at dawn, dusk and night, but can be seen by day in quiet areas.
- Kittens stay with their mother for about a year.
Where to see servals in Tanzania
| Place | Why |
|---|---|
| Ngorongoro Crater | Open grassland and wetlands with plenty of rodents; one of the most reliable places |
| Serengeti | Long-grass areas and wetland edges, especially in the central and southern regions |
| Ndutu area | Grassland and marsh edges |
| Arusha and Tarangire | Occasional sightings in grassy areas |
Early morning drives give the best chance. Ask your guide to scan grassy areas near marshes.
Serval, caracal or cheetah?
- Serval: spots and stripes, very big rounded ears, long legs, short tail.
- Caracal: plain reddish coat, tufted pointed ears.
- Cheetah: much larger, slim, with solid black spots and “tear marks” on the face.
See a serval on safari
Our Crater & Manyara Quick gives you a full day in the Ngorongoro Crater. Serengeti & Crater adds the Serengeti’s grasslands. For more wildlife guides, read about the Big Five, the bushbaby and the honey badger.
Frequently asked questions
No. Wild servals are shy and avoid people. They should never be approached or fed.
The Ngorongoro Crater and the grasslands of the Serengeti are the best places, especially early in the morning.
Servals can leap high into the air to catch birds, and pounce well over their own body length onto rodents in the grass.
