What is the Brown Hyena?

The brown hyena (Hyaena brunnea, formerly Parahyaena brunnea), also called strandwolf, is a species of hyena found in Namibia, Botswana, western and southern Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique and South Africa. It is currently the rarest species of hyena. The largest remaining brown hyena population is located in the southern Kalahari Desert and coastal areas in Southwest Africa.

Wildlife

Brown Hyena

Q: What is the conservation status of the Brown Hyena?

The Brown Hyena (Parahyaena brunnea) is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Parahyaena brunneaNear threatened

The brown hyena (Hyaena brunnea, formerly Parahyaena brunnea), also called strandwolf, is a species of hyena found in Namibia, Botswana, western and southern Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique and South Africa.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordBrown Hyena2 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 North West~129 records

Curve from 536 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

Limpopo and beyond

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

536 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Brown Hyena

1 place
Madikwe Game ReserveNorth West · Best Apr to Sep
1 place

Places to stay

2 results in the North West

Jaci's Private Lodge

Madikwe

Brown Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 71 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives, Photography

Supports Jaci's Lodge Trust

From R 31,500 per night

Heritage View Birding Retreat

Delareyville

Brown Hyena recorded here · Grassland biome · 14 birds recorded · Brown hyena, Black backed jackal · Photography

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,000 per night

More stays nearby

Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge

North West

Savanna biome · Hot air ballooning

Price on request

Thakadu River Camp

Madikwe

Savanna biome

Price on request

Ivory Tree Game Lodge

North West

Savanna biome · Hot air ballooning

Price on request

Sable Ranch - Bush Lodge

Sable Ranch, Brits

Savanna biome · 1 bird recorded · Bushbuck, Giraffe · Game drives, Hiking

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 1,800 per night

Sable Ranch - Thaba Khaya Lodge

Sable Ranch, Brits

Savanna biome · 1 bird recorded · Bushbuck, Giraffe · Game drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 1,800 per night

Phefumula Country Retreat

Magaliesburg

Savanna biome · Meerkat · Hiking, Scenic drives

From R 1,000 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Brown Hyena

Hosts have recorded the Brown Hyena at stays in or beside Madikwe Game Reserve.

When to go, park by park

Here all yearEasiest viewing

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

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 Brown 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.

IUCN Red List

Near Threatened

Species

Parahyaena brunnea

Records

536

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

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

Which parks and reserves are best for the Brown Hyena in North West?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Brown Hyena at stays in or beside Madikwe Game 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 Brown Hyena in South Africa?

The Brown Hyena is most recorded in Limpopo (29% of records), North West (24% of records), Northern Cape (20% of records), based on 536 iNaturalist observations. 2 places to stay on Spekboom in North West have recorded the Brown Hyena on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Brown Hyena?

The Brown 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. Madikwe Game Reserve: Apr-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.

What is the conservation status of the Brown Hyena?