How to Spot a Leopard in Kruger: The Sandpiper Method
- Branden Meintjes
- Nov 6
- 1 min read
The Secret’s in the Silence
They say you never find a leopard it finds you. But there are ways to help your luck along. That afternoon on the S56, the bush was still and gold when I noticed fresh tracks in the sand, round and confident. The INEOS Grenadier idled quietly while I scanned the riverbank through my SBK Sunglasses. The glare melted away and there he was. A young male, half-hidden in dappled light, rubbing against a leadwood trunk before vanishing like smoke.
The Sandpiper Method
Read the ground – round prints with clear pads mean “recent.”
Check the trees – leopards love shade and height.
Listen for alarm calls – francolins, squirrels and vervets snitch every time.
Stay down-wind – you can often smell a male leopard sent marking.
Wear light, breathable gear – my Tigerline shirt kept me cool through the wait.
What’s your luckiest leopard sighting?
On a night drive
On Foot
At a kill
Never
Reader Question:
Do you think patience or luck plays the bigger role in leopard sightings? Tell us at howzit@khakibush.com, best stories get featured in KhakiBush Magazine.
