Many a time I have been asked about the differences between a leopard and a cheetah.

It is without doubt that these cats are a sight to remember when encountered in the African wilderness. They however occupy different habitats, have different habits and look very different.

Let’s start with the leopard.

This is the second largest cat in the African savanna – after the lion.

Leopards are rosette spotted. That is to say they have spots within spots.

They are solitary cats that hunt by night. Relying on their binocular vision and their stealthiness, they stalk and get as close as possible to their prey and then pounce.

Leopards are robust in build and when prey is killed, usually by suffocation – they drag it up a tree away from other carnivores like the spotted hyenas and lions.

Their preferred habitat is the bushveld, where there is lots of trees and grass to provide cover and ample shade to lay during the hot hours of the afternoon.

 

Now, about the Cheetah.

Cheetah have distinct tear marks on their faces and they are spotted.

Males are normally in the company of other males, forming coalitions of more often than not, brothers. Females are usually in the company of their latest litter. So broadly speaking cheetah are social compared to their leopard counterparts.

Cheetah are diurnal (active by day) and they rely on their speed to hunt down their prey. They also do a bit of stalking then chase, and they can reach speeds of over 100km / hour but only for short distances of up to 300metres or so. Prey is killed by suffocation and consists of small to medium sized antelope found in the open plains.

They are slender built, with a long tail for balance at high speeds, and a deep-set chest to accommodate the big lungs – a powerhouse for a sprinter.