Out here, it’s often the grand events—a lion’s roar, a leopard’s leap—that stay with us. But every now and then, it’s the quieter moments that linger longer. A glance. A stillness. A connection you feel more than understand.
We’ve spoken before about the mechanics of animal vision on this blog—the horizontal pupils of impala, the glow of a lion’s eyes at night (see: The Evolution of an Eye or Structural Adaptations: Eyes). But recently, something made me pause and feel it on a different level. Not just how animals see, but how their way of seeing reveals the architecture of life out here.
There is something quietly mesmerising about locking eyes with an animal in the wild. In that fleeting moment, it feels as though two entirely different worlds overlap—ours and theirs. Yet what we often overlook is that those eyes don’t just reflect the animal’s soul; they are finely tuned instruments of survival, honed over millennia.
Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
On a recent morning game drive, a leopard moved through the undergrowth of a dry riverbed ahead of us with measured grace. She paused briefly to scan the terrain, her golden eyes catching the light and holding ours for the briefest of seconds. Later that day, a herd of impala gathered near a waterhole, every individual alert, scanning in almost every direction at once. That was the moment the contrast truly hit home: predators and prey don’t just live differently—they see differently.
And it all comes down to biology.

A Kambula Young male lifts his head to acknowledge the presence of the game vehicle as we pass by. The early morning light and the energy of younger lions meant we were able to get a great view of his eyes as he curiously examined what we were all about.
A Question of Position: Forward vs. Side
One of the most striking differences between predator and prey in the bush lies in the placement of their eyes. Predators such as lions, leopards, and African wild dogs have forward-facing eyes, allowing for binocular vision. This overlap between the visual fields of both eyes provides stereoscopic depth perception, essential for judging distance when stalking or pouncing on prey.

The forward-facing eyes of a female wild dog showcase the brilliance of their binocular vision, which is so effective in the hunting success of the species.
In contrast, prey species such as impala, kudu, and zebra have lateral eye placement, meaning their eyes sit on the sides of their heads. This configuration greatly expands their field of view, often exceeding 300 degrees, allowing them to detect movement from almost any direction without moving their heads. The trade-off is reduced binocular vision, which slightly compromises depth perception, but in the world of evasion, early detection is everything.
The structure of the visual cortex in these animals also reflects their ecological role: predators are wired to track specific objects, while prey are designed to detect changes across a wide panorama.

An impala ram stands tall as it attempts to get a better look at a lioness on the other side of the clearing. When impalas see a predator on the move, they will let off a series of short, sharp snorts and keep their eyes fixed on the predator to let the predator know that it has lost its element of surprise and alerting other members of the herd.
Night and Day: Seeing in the Dark
Many of the predators we are privileged to see are nocturnal or crepuscular, meaning their activity peaks at dawn and dusk. To support their low-light hunting lifestyle, they are equipped with a highly reflective layer behind the retina called the tapetum lucidum. This biological mirror reflects incoming light back through the photoreceptor cells of the eye, effectively giving the eye a second chance to absorb it. This is why a leopard’s or lion’s eyes seem to glow in the beam of a spotlight—it’s the tapetum at work.
Dominant from 2019-2024, transformed from cautious visitor to powerful territorial force. Mastered central Londolozi until his final days.
Their retinas are densely packed with rod cells, the type of photoreceptor specialised for dim light and motion detection. Rods are extremely sensitive, but they cannot detect colour. As a result, predators likely see a world of shapes, shadows, and movement rather than rich hues.
Prey animals also possess a tapetum lucidum but typically rely more heavily on cone cells—the photoreceptors responsible for colour vision—during daylight. While most ungulates are thought to be dichromatic (seeing mainly blues and greens), this is sufficient to distinguish vegetation types and identify predators that break the colour or texture pattern of the landscape.
Ultraviolet and Motion Sensitivity
Some prey species have been found to perceive ultraviolet (UV) light, a wavelength beyond what the human eye can detect. The corneas and lenses of many ungulates—including species we regularly see at Londolozi like impala, kudu, wildebeest, and zebra—allow UV rays to reach the retina, offering them a subtle yet powerful sensory edge. It’s theorised that this ability may help them detect urine trails left by predators, pick up on fur or feathers that reflect UV light, or even highlight contrasts in foliage, making it easier to spot a lion hidden in the long grass.
Predators, in contrast, tend to have more limited UV perception but compensate with heightened sensitivity to motion. The superior colliculus, a structure in the brainstem, is especially well-developed in many hunting species and assists in locking onto fast-moving prey even with limited visual detail.
Eye Shape and Pupil Type
Another fascinating difference lies in pupil shape. Many prey species such as antelope have horizontal slit pupils, which allow them to better scan the horizon and detect movement across wide fields—vital for detecting approaching predators. These pupils also reduce glare from overhead sunlight, which can be intense in open plains.
Predators like cats have vertical slit pupils, which offer precise control over the amount of light entering the eye. This helps them operate effectively in varying light conditions—whether stalking at sunset or crouching in dense shade. Vertical slits are also beneficial for ambush predators, like leopards, as they aid in accurately estimating distance during pounces.
The Telltale Gaze
As any experienced guide will tell you, eye contact in the bush can carry weight. Predators often avoid direct stares during stalking to prevent alerting prey. Conversely, prey are hyper-aware of gazes. Their amygdala, a brain region involved in fear detection, is highly responsive to the forward-focused stare of a predator, even from a human.
Dominant from 2019-2024, transformed from cautious visitor to powerful territorial force. Mastered central Londolozi until his final days.
I recall one afternoon when we rounded a corner and startled a herd of nyala. They froze, heads high, eyes wide, scanning. Even as we sat motionless, they could feel our gaze, their survival instincts kicking in before we even lifted our binoculars.
Seeing the Wild Differently
The more time you spend out here, the more you start to realise that it’s not just about what you see, but about how the animals see.
Their gaze is not random. It’s the sum of hundreds of thousands of years of evolution—refined, purposeful, alert.
Understanding the mechanics behind how animals see adds depth to the magic of the bush. It’s humbling to know that every blink, every glance, has been transformed through evolutionary filters designed for one thing: survival.

The Ntomi Male stares straight towards our vehicle. Before this photograph was taken this young male leopard was robbed of his impala kill by one of the Ndhzenga Male Lions. The Ntomi Male then found safety on top of a termite mound where we managed to get a few stunning portraits of him.
Born 2021, son of Ximungwe Female. Distinguished by eye freckle, grown into formidable male dominant in the west.
So the next time you’re on safari and catch the shimmer of golden eyes from a lion under a knobthorn or the side-glance of a vigilant impala, remember: you are looking into an entirely different way of seeing the world.
And in that difference lies the true brilliance of nature.
A great blog, Nick. I think a great number of people will look at animals differently when on a game drive or trail.
Gorgeous picture of a cheetah to open the series! It happened to me to see several documentaries on cheetah lately. They appear to be quite successful in growing cubs and predation. Males often form coalitions like lions… if someone forgets university’s or school ‘s physiology lessons, at Londolozi there’s always a blog reminding us all! I love the impala ram posture, he’s so elegant and fierce. The Senegal Bush male stays the quintessential leopardity for me… what a look! So intense… he’s a real scene stealer! His son is alike. With such parents he couldn’t be less…. all animals have their role in the ecosystem and it’s so nice to see all pictures and different habits. Zebras are always so photogenic and beautiful. I had always liked that picture of the Nkoveni Female among flowers, a romantic appearance for a tenacious mother and hunter… the young lion is a middle way between naive and curious…. very good choice to a detailed and clear explanation.
Brilliant blog, Nic. Next time on a game drive, I’ll remember what you wrote about how seeing the world through the eyes of prey or predator is so completely different. And also so different from our sight.
Dear Nick, what for different impressive eyes. Great blog
Thank you Nic for your information on these vital differences. This will help us realize what the prey see and what the predators see. It is quite alarming to see the fear in the preys eyes as the predators approach.
Great article. Apparently, there’s also evidence that prey animals have special neurons that respond to the outlines of predator-like figures. So, their visual cortex recognizes and distinguishes between threatening and non-threatening shapes.
Terrific blog Nic on this somewhat complicated subject as to how animals see…. Given the majority of predators who utilize the straight on approach, it is fascinating that their prey , given their eye placement, see their world in a totally different way, many times to their advantage. At the end of the day however, sometimes it is just pure luck – if prey escapes or not.
I had no idea there were mammals that could see UV light. I thought it was limited to insects–very cool!