Serval is a medium-sized cat that ranges in weight from 9 to 18 kg.  Large ears and a lengthy body that resembles that of a leopard and domestic cat characterize a serval. The legs are among the longest in cats, while the head is comparatively small. A serval's shoulder height can reach up to 60 centimetres, and its length, tail excluded, can reach one meter. They have a maximum leap height of two meters and a maximum length of three meters.

A serval is a lone animal that, outside of mating season, rarely interacts with other servals. Servals Favor heavily hydrated savannah, but they can also be found in other environments if they have access to both water and cover.  A serval is rare to find in both equatorial rainforests and deserts. Its large legs enable it to walk through water and raise its body above the surface. About 90% of a Serval's diet consists of rodents, but they can also catch smaller antelopes, duikers, and birds.

Based on their geographic distribution, three subspecies are identified as living in South Africa, Central and West Africa, and East Africa, respectively. Interestingly, the word "serval" means "a deer-like wolf," or more accurately, "deer-hunting wolf," and it originates from the medieval Latin or Spanish name for the Iberian lynx. There are prospects for Serval hunting in Zimbabwe and South Africa.