Melanistic Serval

We are very excited to share this amazing sighting of a black melanistic serval cat spotted by our guide Juma Patrick in Amboseli. The photographs were captured by Marco Strullu, who was a guest at Elewana Tortilis Camp at the time.

Serval cats are similar in size to Caracals and are classed as medium sized cats, however they are more slender and taller with a weight that ranges from 9 to 13 kgs in adults. The coat pattern is variable but usually pale yellow with different sized spots, some of which merge into longitudinal stripes down the back and neck. The underparts are paler but usually also spotted and the tail has black rings with a black tip.