Leopard Tortoise

Stigmochelys pardalis

Silhouette: Andrew A. Farke · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassTestudines
FamilyTestudinidae (Tortoises)
GenusStigmochelys
SpeciesStigmochelys pardalis (Leopard Tortoise)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Lower Zambezi National Park

2 Verified sightings at Lower Zambezi National Park From 2019 to 2026

1,855 Verified sightings across all 36 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Leopard Tortoise

The leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) is a large and attractively marked tortoise found in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa, from Sudan to the southern Cape Province. It is the only extant member of the genus Stigmochelys, although in the past, it was commonly placed in Geochelone. This tortoise is a grazing species that favors semiarid, thorny to grassland habitats. In both very hot and very cold weather, it may dwell in abandoned fox, jackal, or aardvark burrows. The leopard tortoise does not dig other than to make nests in which to lay eggs. Given its propensity for grassland habitats, it grazes extensively upon mixed grasses. It also favors succulents and thistles.

The phylogenic placement of the leopard tortoise has been subject to several revisions. Different authors have placed it in Geochelone (1957), Stigmochelys (2001), Centrochelys (2002), and Psammobates (2006). More recently, consensus appears to have settled on Stigmochelys, a monotypic genus. Considerable debate has occurred about the existence of two subspecies, S. p. pardalis and S. p. babcocki, but recent work does not support this distinction.

Stigmochelys is a combination... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Awash National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	~60%
2	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~50%
3	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~50%
4	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~40%
5	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~40%
6	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~40%
7	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~40%
8	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~40%
9	Waterberg Plateau Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	~40%
10	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~30%
11	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~30%
12	Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~30%
13	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~30%
14	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~30%
15	Etosha National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	~30%
16	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~30%
17	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	~20%
18	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~20%
19	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~20%
20	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~20%
21	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	~20%
22	Garden Route National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~20%
23	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
24	Namib-Naukluft National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	~10%
25	Table Mountain National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
26	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
27	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
28	Kidepo Valley National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
29	Meru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
30	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
31	Lower Zambezi National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	Insufficient data
32	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
33	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
34	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	Insufficient data
35	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	Insufficient data
36	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data

← Back to Lower Zambezi National Park

Leopard Tortoise

About the Leopard Tortoise

Recent sightings of Leopard Tortoise in Lower Zambezi National Park

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found