12/09/2026
Most people go on safari hoping to see a leopard.
Very few ever imagine seeing a black one.
The black leopard is not a separate species. It's a leopard with a rare genetic condition called melanism, which gives it its dark coat. Look closely and you'll still see the familiar leopard spots beneath the black fur.
For decades, black leopards in Africa were spoken about more as legend than reality until one was scientifically documented in Laikipia in 2018, putting this part of Kenya on the global wildlife map.