Published August 16, 2026
Lions, leopards and cheetahs all live on the Serengeti's plains, but they behave, hunt and show themselves in very different ways.
The only truly social big cat, lions live in prides of related females, their cubs and a few males. They often hunt together at night or dawn using coordinated ambushes. Because of their size and groups, they are the easiest of the three to see.
Leopards live alone and are mostly active at night. They creep close to their prey before a short, explosive rush, and they are strong enough to carry a kill up a tree, away from lions and hyenas. That is often where you will spot one, lying along a branch in the daytime.
The fastest land animal, the cheetah hunts in daylight, relying on sharp eyesight and bursts of incredible speed rather than ambush. The Serengeti's open plains suit it perfectly.
Lions are the biggest and usually in groups. Leopards are stocky and muscular with rosette-shaped spots, often in trees. Cheetahs are slim and long-legged with solid black spots and a dark "tear line" from each eye to the mouth.
Leopards take patience and a bit of luck. They are solitary and superbly camouflaged, which makes them the hardest of the three to find, even where they are common.
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