Serval seen at the Cat Rehabilitation Centre at Emdoneni Lodge & Game Farm in Hluhluwe, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa - Cat Photographs and Information

The serval is much larger than the domestic cat. It is long legged, the hind legs longer than the front legs. Its neck is long and its head is small, with large, very erect ears. The serval's coat is yellowish-tan, with black spots, bands and stripes. The tail is ringed with black, and the under parts of the body are white or light tan.

Servals are common on the savannahs where there is plenty of water. They seem to prefer areas of bush, tall grass and dry reed beds near streams, but are found in high-altitude moorlands and bamboo thickets.