Where to see big cats on a Tanzania safari

Located in East Africa, Tanzania is one of the most visited countries on the African continent, offering the perfect getaway from the busy city centres to the best safari destinations where you get to see the big cats. The big cats are one of the top tourist attractions on An African safari and these include lions, leopards and cheetahs. Unlike Kenya, Tanzania has more big cats to look out for and these include Caracal, Genets, African Wild cat, Panthera Onotocans, African golden cat and Serval. Some of these big cats can be found in different parts of the world; however, these are indigenous to Africa, and a few can be spotted in Tanzania. Below are some of the big cats you should look out for on a Tanzanian safari.

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Lions: Known as the king of the jungle, lions are a common sight on safari drives in Tanzania in the different safari destinations. Lions live in pride; the female lions are the ones that hunt, whereas the male lions relax and wait for their share. Tanzania also has climbing ions in Manyara National Park and the best time to spot lions in Tanzania is during the dry season from June to September. The male lions in Serengeti can easily be identified by their manes and usually prey on different wildlife species, including buffaloes, hippos, gazelles, antelopes and zebras, among others.  Lions are also part of the big five and these are animals that are hard to hunt while on foot.

Leopards: This is one of the big ferocious cats most likely to be seen in the parks found in the northern part of Tanzania. Leopards in Tanzania are relatively easy to spot, and one of the best places to spot these big cats is in the Seronera Valley, found in Serengeti National Park. Other than when leopards are mating or females with their cubs, it is rare to spot more than one leopard in one place. Other safari destinations where you can spot leopards include Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park and Manyara National Park. Leopards can easily adapt to their environment and any weather and their tails help with easy balancing when they are up in the trees. The male leopards are larger as compared to the female ones and can carry their prey up a tree.

Cheetahs: The largest and oldest cheetah subspecies are found in Tanzania. There are other subspecies that can be found in the neighbouring countries of Kenya and Uganda. The easiest way to identify a cheetah is by the black tear that runs from each side of the eye to the lower lip and this separates them from other cheetah species. Cheetahs have back spots, the tip of their tail is either black or white, and the females separate from their cubs after a year to fend for themselves. A significant difference between male and female cheetahs is that the male ones have larger heads as compared to the female ones.

Where to see the African big cats

Tanzania is a well-known safari destination in the world, and below are some of the popular safari destinations where tourists can spot the big cats in action.

Serengeti National Park           

Located in Northern Tanzania, Serengeti National Park is the most visited National Park in Tanzania, where tourists get to see the big cats, including lions and leopards. There are different tourist attractions in Serengeti, and the big cats are part of them; these can be seen on game drives with an experienced guide. The best time to spot the big cats in Serengeti National Park is during the dry season from June to October which is the best time for wildlife viewing in Tanzania. There are over 3000 lions in Serengeti, making it the largest population of lions in Africa, with over 1000 leopards, which can be spotted lazing among the trees and over 300 cheetahs.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a top tourist safari destination in Tanzania, neighbouring Serengeti National Park. Ngorongoro Conservation Area has the largest concentration of animals in the crater, making it a top spot for the big cats, including lions, leopards and cheetahs, to watch their prey. The animals can be seen around Ngorongoro Crater and Ndutu Area best known for the wildebeest migration calving season.

As of 2020, there were about 75 lions and 8 prides that can be seen on the Crater floor and the prides include the Lucia pride, Munge, Munge Tati, Lakette, Mungedge pride, Lakes, Munge Mabinti and Lungita prides. The lions in Ngorongoro can easily be potted hunting their prey and relaxing after a meal while on a game drive around the Crater.

Leopards in Ngorongoro Crater are rare to spot but on occasion, they can easily be spotted up in the trees, tree branches and throughout the conservation Area when they are out to hunt and kill their prey. The leopards in Ngorongoro are best seen in the Northern highland forests located in the southern sector of the Conservation Area. The highland forests cover over 20% of the conservation area and hunt during both the day and night. They are shy animals, and many of their hunts are carried out at night, some of the animals that are hunted include rodents, antelopes, warthogs, zebras, wildebeests, owls, porcupines and monkeys, among others.

Cheetahs are also rare to find; however, a few can commonly be found around Lake Ndutu in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Cheetahs are the fastest animals in the world, and although there is no actual number of cheetahs recorded in the crater, the best time to spot one is during the dry season, June to October, and if you are lucky, you might spot one on a hunting spree.

Tarangire National Park

Located in the northern circuit of Tanzania, Tarangire National Park is mainly famous for the baobab trees and the large elephant population, but it is also known as a home to predators, which include the three big cats, lions, cheetahs and leopards. Just like all the other national parks located in the northern circuit, the animals in Tarangire National Park migrate according to the weather conditions.

Lions in Tarangire National Park are very common and it is on rare occasions that they cannot be spotted. Lions can easily be seen prowling the Tarangire plains watching and hunting their prey. There are over 250 lions in Tarangire, and these can be found around the park almost throughout the day, there are also a few climbing lions found in the park as well. Tarangire lions feed on several animals, and these include zebras, wildebeests, antelopes, and gazelles, among others.  The best time to spot the lions in Tarangire is from June to October when they are gathered around watering holes to cool down and hunt. They can, however, also be seen during the rainy season as they hunt unsuspecting calves.

Cheetahs in Tarangire are a rare find since they are shy and usually hunt at night and during the afternoon hours. Unlike other wild animals that are active in the morning hours, cheetahs are active in the afternoons to avoid being bullied by other predators since they have behaviours of stealing food that has been hunted down by the cheetahs. The dry season is the best time to spot the cheetahs in Tarangire.

Leopards are part of the big four of the big five that are found in Tarangire National Park and are a common sight on game drives. During a game drive around the park, you get to see leopards dangling from branches of acacia trees or during one of the hunting sprees.

Nyerere National Park

Nyerere National Park, formerly known as Selous Game Reserve, is one of the national parks that are worth visiting and home to the big cats in Tanzania. Nyerere National Park has close to 1700 lions that live in pride of 15 to 20 with at least three males, several females, other adults and cubs, among others. The males dominate their territory and females hunt down the food and are occasionally helped by the males when taking down the larger animals. They hunt down almost all types of animals and, after eating, can rest up to 20 hours a day due to their high metabolism.

There is a high of spotting Leopards in Nyerere National Park and these can be seen hunting out in the open grasslands. Leopards are best known for their speed touching over 110 kilometers per hour during short hunts. Cheetahs are harder to get to see because of their shy behaviours, but you might be lucky and spot one as it hunts. Cheetahs love hunting during the day when there is less competition from the rest of the predators.

Ruaha National Park

Ruaha National Park is one of Tanzania’s hidden jewels when it comes to the three big cats, including leopards, lions and cheetahs. The unspoiled wilderness is home to a significant population of big cats that can be seen all year round; however, the best time is during the dry season. Ruaha has a jagged landscape providing the best backdrop for watching the big cats in action.

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park, famous for its legendary tree-climbing lions and big-tusked elephants, is one of the popular parks visited by tourists throughout the year. It has an impressive number of tree-climbing lions; the leopards are rare; however, there are no cheetahs. 8 There is no specific reason as to why the lions climb trees, but it is believed that they see and gauge their prey from up the trees before they hunt them down, and it is also a better place to rest from the heat experienced while on the ground.

Threats to the big cats in Tanzania                                                           

The population of the three big cats, leopards, lions and cheetahs, have been under a lot of pressure, especially in the northern circuit, over the past 20 years, and this is due to the conflicts between humans and the loss of the natural habitat of the big cats. This is where the Northern Tanzania Big Cats Conservation comes in handy by ensuring that the cats are safe from poachers and that there is enough prey for the three big cats to feed on.

Illegal trading of wildlife body parts, unregulated hunting and illegal poaching, have led to the decline of animal species. The loss of their natural habitat has also affected them negatively, and in a bid to continue protecting the big cats, the government has put strict measures, including prison for anyone found hunting down any of the big five. There are however some incidents of poaching still happening around the park but with sensitization, the local people around the park are now vigilant and report any illegal poaching taking place. Security has also been deployed around the park to protect the wildlife.

When is the best time to go to Tanzania to watch the big cats?

Big cats can be seen throughout the year; however, the best time is from June to October during the dry season, and the reason is that the dry season comes with less vegetation, making it easier to spot them as they watch their prey and spring into action. The dry season is also the best time to watch the wildebeest migration and this provides enough food for the predators. Specific sightings for the three big cats are not guaranteed but chances of spotting them are increased when you are with an experienced guide. The rainy season, which is the caving season, is also known to be a good time for spotting the big cats as they hunt the calves.

Booking the big cats safari to Tanzania with Encounter Africa safaris is a unique and unforgettable experience. Our knowledgeable and experienced guides will take you around the national parks on a game drive where you will be able to spot the predators in their natural habitat. Get in touch with us for more information on how to book and enjoy a big cat's safari to Tanzania.