The Serval (Leptailurus serval) is a slender, medium-sized striped and spotted cat found in most of the savanna habitats of Africa. Servals are active by day and night and are mostly solitary and remain cautious if large carnivores or prey animals are about. Servals prey mainly on rodents, small birds, insects, frogs and reptiles, stalking their prey then pouncing on it with its forepaws. Servals are secretive, preferring habitats with dense cover such as long grass and reed beds. Servals are rarely seen by visitors to game parks – this is our first good view of one despite having visited Africa on many occasions. This Serval was resting in the shade of a shrub near the Sabie River in the southern section of Kruger Park on a hot December afternoon. After about 15 minutes the Serval got up and moved to a small mopane tree where it stretched up on the trunk and sharpened its claws before moving off.