What is the Spotted Hyena?

The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), also known as the laughing hyena, is a species of hyena, currently classed as the sole member of the genus Crocuta, native to Sub-Saharan Africa. It is listed as being of least concern by the IUCN on account of its widespread range and large numbers estimated between 27,000 and 47,000 individuals.

Wildlife

Spotted Hyena

Crocuta crocuta

The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), also known as the laughing hyena, is a species of hyena, currently classed as the sole member of the genus Crocuta, native to Sub-Saharan Africa.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordSpotted Hyena10+ stays list it on site or nearby

Species insights▾

When to visit

Recorded year-round

Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.

Best monthsAny month

Recorded in Mpumalanga~2,172 records

Curve from 3,393 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.

Where you'll find it

Mpumalanga and beyond

Provinces where Spotted Hyena is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

Mpumalanga

64%Limpopo

25%KwaZulu-Natal

3,393 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Spotted Hyena

Places to stay

10+ results in Mpumalanga

Singita Ebony Lodge

Mpumalanga

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 42 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Boulders Lodge

Mpumalanga

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 43 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Sweni Lodge

Mpumalanga

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 53 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Lebombo Lodge

Mpumalanga

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 50 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Plains Camp @ Rhino Walking Safaris

Mpumalanga

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Aardvark, African elephant · Guided walk, Game drives

Supports BirdLife South Africa

Price on request

&Beyond Tengile River Lodge

Bushbuckridge

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 37 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Wildlife viewing

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 93,000 per night

&Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge

Hoedspruit

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Game drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 37,800 per night

&Beyond Ngala Tented Camp

Phalaborwa

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Dining experiences

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 52,000 per night

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Hazyview

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives

From R 10,670 per night

Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge

Hazyview

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,400 per night

Dulini Moya

Bushbuckridge

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 38 birds recorded · Leadwood, Leopard · Safaris, Scenic drives

From R 28,990 per night

Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp

Marloth Park

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Impala, Spotted hyena · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 11,980 per night

Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp

Marloth Park

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,500 per night

Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 45 birds recorded · Cheetah, Delagoa thorn · Guided walk, Game drives

From R 390 per night

Dulini River

Bushbuckridge

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 38 birds recorded · Sausage tree, Leopard · Safaris, Scenic drives

From R 28,990 per night

Dulini Leadwood

Bushbuckridge

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 38 birds recorded · Leadwood, Jackalberry · Safaris, Game drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 28,990 per night

More stays nearby

Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point

Hazyview

Savanna biome · 1 bird recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Price on request

Singita Lebombo Villa

Mpumalanga

Savanna biome

Price on request

Singita Castleton

Mpumalanga

Savanna biome · Yoga

Price on request

Singita Ebony Villa

Mpumalanga

Savanna biome

Price on request

Mbizane Escarpment Retreat

Mbombela

Forest biome · 91 birds recorded

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 3,800 per night

Forellenhof Guest Farm

Wakkerstroom

Grassland biome · 28 birds recorded · Hiking, Fishing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,500 per night

Mvuradona Safari Lodge

Marloth Park

Savanna biome · Giraffe, Warthog · Safaris, Game drives

From R 2,473 per night

The Orpen Kruger

Welverdiend, Bushbuckridge

Savanna biome · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Game drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 9,024 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Spotted Hyena

Hosts have recorded the Spotted Hyena at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.

When to go, park by park

Here all yearEasiest viewing

Best months to visit each park where hosts record the Spotted Hyena
Park	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Kruger	Here	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Here	Here	Here
Sabi Sand	Here	Here	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing

Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.

Best hours of the day

After dark and around dawn. The Spotted Hyena is mostly active at night, so a night drive gives the best chance.
Daytime, resting. Usually out of sight in cover, a burrow or water.

Where to base yourself

Ways to look

Drive yourself

Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.

Where hosts record it

Kruger

Guided drives from a lodge

A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.

Where hosts record it

Sabi Sand Timbavati

Species

Crocuta crocuta

Records

3 393

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the Spotted Hyena on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the Spotted Hyena in Mpumalanga?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Spotted Hyena at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.

Where can you see the Spotted Hyena in South Africa?

The Spotted Hyena is most recorded in Mpumalanga (64% of records), Limpopo (25% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (5% of records), based on 3 393 iNaturalist observations. 16 places to stay on Spekboom in Mpumalanga have recorded the Spotted Hyena on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Spotted Hyena?

The Spotted Hyena is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Sabi Sand Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep optimal; Timbavati Private Nature Reserve: May-Sep, dry season. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.