  Not as well know as the large cats, probably because they are
smaller, mainly nocturnal and solitary.
The serval is much larger than the domestic cat. It is long legged, the hind legs longer
than the front legs. The neck is long and its head small, with large, very erect ears. The
serval's coat is yellowish-tan, with black spots, bands and stripes. The tail is ringed
with black, and the underparts of the body are white or light tan. Individual servals can
be identified by their unique features; diverse patterns of spots and stripes, nicks in
their ears, and variations in colour.
Size: Serval stand 22 inches at the shoulder; Weight: 30 to 45 pounds.
Habitat: Savannahs. Servals are common on the savannahs where there is plenty of
water. They seem to prefer areas of bush, tall grass and dry reed beds near streams, but
are found in high-altitude moorlands and bamboo thickets. Black servals occur in Kenya's
high country.
Diet: Carnivorous. Servals eat a great variety of prey, including birds, snakes,
lizards, frogs and insects, and they are notorious poultry raiders. They are quite
successful hunters, catching an average of 50 percent of all prey hunted.
Socialisation: The serval is mainly nocturnal, but even in the daytime it can be
difficult to see in tall grass. The serval hunts by sight and sound more than scent. With
its acute hearing, a serval can locate prey that is moving underground.
If hunting prey above ground, the serval raises its head above the grass and listens for
movement. Once a sound is located, the serval stealthily approaches, then leaps and
pounces. It often plays with its catch before eating it.
A serval has a territory of up to 5 square miles that it continually marks by spraying
urine on grass and bushes along the borders. The marking alerts servals in overlapping
territories to keep their distance.
Lifespan: 20 years.
Predators: Hyenas, hunting dogs and leopards
See Serval at Game Reserves at Lodges in:
Eastern
Cape · Limpopo · North
West · Mpumalanga · Gauteng
· Free
State
KwaZulu
Natal · Western Cape · Garden
Route · Kruger National Park
Northern
Cape · Namibia · Botswana
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