If you have only seen them in pictures, a leopard and a tiger can look like the same big yellow cat. In the wild, they are not. They are different in size, in pattern, in the way they move and in the places they hide. And on a safari, knowing the difference is half the fun.
I have seen tigers at Tadoba and Bandhavgarh, and leopards on the granite hills of Jawai. Here is a plain guide to telling them apart, with photos of both.
The quick answer
| Tiger | Leopard | |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern | Dark stripes on an orange coat | Black rings, called rosettes, on a golden coat |
| Size | Much bigger and heavier | Smaller and lighter |
| Build | Huge, heavy and powerful | Slim, long and muscular |
| Face | Broad face with a white patch above the eyes | Narrower face with small black spots |
| Where it likes to be | Forest, grass and water | Rocks, trees and thick cover |
| Habit | Walks open forest roads and loves water | Climbs and hides, and often stays on high ground |
1. Look at the pattern
This is the easiest test. A tiger has bold, dark stripes running across its body, on a bright orange coat. No two tigers have the same stripes. A leopard does not have stripes at all. Its coat is covered in black rings and spots, with a golden colour in between.
If you only see a part of the animal, look for stripes. Stripes mean tiger. Spots mean leopard.
2. Look at the size
A tiger is far bigger than a leopard. Next to each other, a tiger looks like the heavy version of the same animal. A leopard is slimmer, with a long body and shorter legs. You can often tell from how the animal fills the frame. A leopard looks lean. A tiger looks like a wall of muscle.
3. Look at where it is
The place often gives the answer. Tigers like forests, grasslands and water. We have seen them at waterholes, walking along jeep tracks and resting in ponds. A tiger in a pond is a very common sight in the dry season.
Leopards are different. At Jawai in Rajasthan, the leopards live on smooth granite hills, among huge rocks, caves and balancing boulders. We found one tucked under a giant boulder, watching the valley. Leopards also climb trees well and love thick cover. That is why they can live very close to villages without being noticed.
4. Look at how it behaves
- The tiger walks in the open. It uses forest roads and wide meadows, and when it is relaxed, it does not hide from a jeep.
- The leopard stays careful. It uses rocks and bushes, and often watches from a height.
- Tigers love water. They sit in ponds and cross rivers.
- Leopards use the high ground. At Jawai, we saw them coming down the hill in the early light, picking their way over the stone the way only a cat can.
5. Look at the face
A tiger has a big, broad face with strong cheeks and a white patch above each eye. A leopard has a smaller, narrower face with small black spots on it. If you get a good look at the head, the pattern tells you at once.
Seeing them together?
Not often. In most parks one cat is dominant, and the other keeps out of its way. That is one reason a leopard stays in the rocks and the thick cover.
At Jawai, we did four safaris and saw three or four different leopards. In the last morning, before sunrise, we found two together on the open rock, one sitting and one walking. You can read the whole trip in our Jawai leopard safari guide.
Where to see each one
- Tigers: Tadoba, Bandhavgarh and Panna. See Tadoba, Bandhavgarh and Panna: which first?.
- Leopards: the granite hills of Jawai in Rajasthan.
Be careful with both
Both are wild and strong. Stay in the vehicle. Keep quiet. Never chase an animal. These leopards trust their landscape because people have left them alone, and the same is true of tigers.
For photographing them, see Tiger Photography in India.
Questions people ask
How can I tell a leopard from a tiger?
Look at the coat. A tiger has stripes. A leopard has black rings and spots.
Which is bigger, a tiger or a leopard?
The tiger is much bigger and heavier.
Can a leopard climb a tree?
Yes. Leopards climb well and use trees and rocks to watch and to hide.
Where can I see leopards in India?
We have seen them on the granite hills of Jawai in Rajasthan.
Are leopards dangerous?
They are wild animals and should be treated with respect. On a safari, stay in the vehicle and keep quiet.
Related: Safari Alarm Calls: How Guides Find Tigers by Listening