Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
41 places
Wildlife
Brown Hyena
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.
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
Records536 records
Curve from 536 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. 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
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 8,380a night
Brown Hyena recorded here
Heritage View Birding Retreat
Delareyville
From R 1,000a night
Brown Hyena recorded here
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Brown Hyena recorded here
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Brown Hyena recorded here
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Brown Hyena recorded here
Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Brown Hyena recorded here
Makongo Hills Lodge
Magudu
From R 1,280a night
Brown Hyena recorded here
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
Brown Hyena recorded here
Marataba Mountain Lodge
Marakele National Park
Price on request
Brown Hyena recorded here
The Orpen Kruger
Kruger National Park
From R 9,024a night
Brown Hyena recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Brown Hyena recorded here
Lion Sands Tinga Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Brown Hyena recorded here
Quatermain's Camp
Paterson
From R 11,592a night
Brown Hyena recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Brown Hyena recorded here
Marataba Safari Lodge
Marakele National Park
Price on request
Brown Hyena recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Brown Hyena recorded here
Hlosi Game Lodge
Amakhala Game Reserve
From R 4,000a night
Brown Hyena recorded here
Lion Sands Narina Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Brown Hyena recorded here
Tapfontein
Anysberg Nature Reserve
From R 250a night
Brown Hyena recorded here
Anysberg Campsites
Anysberg Nature Reserve
From R 250a night
Brown Hyena recorded here
Hinkwenu Villa, Lion Sands
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Brown Hyena recorded here
Chameleon Cottage
Anysberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,520a night
Brown Hyena recorded here
Leguaan Cottage
Anysberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,520a night
Brown Hyena recorded here
Marataba Villa
Marakele National Park
Price on request
Brown Hyena recorded here
The Drakensberg
Next stop
Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Brown Hyena
Hosts have recorded the Brown Hyena at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| 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 |
| uKhahlamba-Drakensberg | Here | Here | Here | Here | 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 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.
Where to base yourself
Limpopo
Kruger · Marakele · Mapungubwe
LimpopoBig FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesStays in Limpopo
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi · Ai-Ais/Richtersveld · Mokala
Northern CapeSelf-driveStays in Northern Cape
Eastern Cape
Addo Elephant · Kwandwe · Amakhala
Eastern CapeBig FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
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
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 South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Brown Hyena at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Addo Elephant National Park and Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and other reserves. 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. 108 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa 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. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Anysberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Brown Hyena?
The Brown Hyena (Parahyaena brunnea) is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
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.
