Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
42 places
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.
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
Records3,393 records
Curve from 3,393 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
Mpumalanga and beyond
Provinces where Spotted Hyena is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
3,393 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Spotted Hyena
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Sungubala Eco Camp
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 1,140a night
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 8,380a night
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Price on request
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Jaci's Private Lodge
Madikwe
From R 31,500a night
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Makongo Hills Lodge
Magudu
From R 1,280a night
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
Spotted Hyena recorded here
The Orpen Kruger
Kruger National Park
From R 9,024a night
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Dulini Moya
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
From R 28,990a night
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Marataba Mountain Lodge
Marakele National Park
Price on request
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Lion Sands Ivory Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Price on request
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Twee Rivieren Rest Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 450a night
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Orpen Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 1,815a night
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Lion Sands Tinga Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Mata-Mata Rest Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 450a night
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Langebos Huts
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 2,093a night
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Marataba Safari Lodge
Marakele National Park
Price on request
Spotted Hyena recorded here
Kruger Lowveld
Next stop
Bushveld game country and the southern gates of the Kruger
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Spotted Hyena
Hosts have recorded the Spotted Hyena at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Sabi Sand Game Reserve.
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 |
| Kgalagadi | Here | Here | 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
Limpopo
Kruger · Marakele · Mapungubwe
LimpopoBig FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesStays in Limpopo
Eastern Cape
Addo Elephant · Kwandwe
Eastern CapeBig FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi
Northern CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Northern Cape
Mpumalanga
Sabi Sand
MpumalangaBig FiveGuided drivesStays in Mpumalanga
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
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 South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Spotted Hyena at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Addo Elephant National Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and Marakele National Park 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 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. 98 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa 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; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Sabi Sand Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep optimal; Addo Elephant National Park: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
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.