Cape Leopard Trust

Protecting the elusive leopards

of the Cape mountains

The Cederberg is a landscape of sandstone mountains, fynbos, open sky and hidden wildlife, north of Cape Town. It is also home to one of South Africa’s most elusive predators: the Cape Mountain leopard.

Because Cedarberg Africa was born in this region, the work of the Cape Leopard Trust feels especially close to us. Their research and conservation work takes place in the mountains and farmlands around us, the landscapes that gave our company its name.

Why leopards matter

Leopards are the last remaining large predator still roaming freely in much of the Western Cape. They are rarely seen, mostly active at night, and range over vast areas.

In the Cape mountains, leopards face many pressures. Habitat loss, shrinking prey numbers, roads, snares and conflict with people all threaten their long-term survival. They live at low densities and require large, connected landscapes in order to thrive.

Protecting leopards therefore means protecting far more than one species. It means protecting mountain catchments, fynbos, smaller wildlife, and the wild character of the Cape landscapes.

What the Cape Leopard Trust Does

The Cape Leopard Trust is a non-profit conservation. Its work combines scientific research, practical conservation and environmental education.

The Trust (CLT) studies leopard movement, behaviour and habitat use through camera traps, field research and long-term monitoring. This research helps build a clearer picture of where leopards live, how they move through the landscape, and what they need to survive. The organisation also works with landowners, communities and conservation partners to reduce predator-farm animal conflict and encourage coexistence between people and predators

Why we support them

For us, supporting the Cape Leopard Trust is a way to give back to the wild landscapes around our home. The Cederberg is not only a beautiful place to visit. It is a living ecosystem, and its wildlife needs long-term protection.

We also like the Trust’s balanced approach. Their work is grounded in science, but also in education and practical collaboration with people who live and work alongside wildlife.

That feels very much in keeping with Cedarberg Africa’s own view of responsible travel: conservation works best when local people are part of the solution.

You can learn more about the Cape Leopard Trust and their conservation work through their website HERE,

or ask us how your trip with Cedarberg Africa helps support projects like this.

More About the Cape Leopard

The leopard is the last remaining large predator and the only member of the Big 5 still roaming freely in the Western Cape. However, it faces numerous threats, including habitat loss and fragmentation, declining prey populations, and frequent conflicts with humans. Notably, leopards in the Cape’s fynbos regions are physically smaller and weigh less than their savanna cousins – males on average 35 kg and females 20 kg. They occur at much lower densities (fewer than 2 leopards per 100 km2) and have home ranges up to ten times larger than leopards elsewhere in South Africa.
Because of these differences, people often refer to them as ‘Cape leopards’. But this is a confusing term as all leopards in Africa belong to the same subspecies – Panthera pardus.
To avoid misperception, ‘leopards of the Cape’ may be a better term to describe this unique population. The Cape leopard Trust (CLT) is dedicated to ensuring the long-term survival of leopard populations by protecting their habitat and prey base while fostering peaceful coexistence with humans..