Servals hunt in tall grass by ear, then pounce from as high as 3 metres. They are shy and best seen early or late in the day.
Small cats
Serval
Leptailurus serval
A slender, long-legged cat with huge ears and a leap that catches birds.
Size
8-18 kg
Lifespan
10-12 years
Diet
Rodents, birds and frogs.
Habitat
Wetlands and grassland.
About the serval
Did you know?
01
Servals have the longest legs of any cat, in proportion to body size.
02
They succeed in about half of their hunts.
03
Their large ears can hear rodents underground.
When to see it
Seen all year round; the best sightings depend on where you are.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Where to see it in Tanzania
Trips that go there
Where to meet the serval
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