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Your chances of seeing Spotted Hyena in Kruger National Park
Seen on most drives. Most visitors see Spotted Hyena within a day or two in Kruger National Park.
When to see Spotted Hyena in Kruger National Park
Spotted Hyena are most active early morning (04:00 to 08:00), late afternoon into dusk (16:00 to 20:00) and at night (18:00 to 06:00). Much of their activity falls outside gate hours, so the first drive after the gates open and the last hour before they close give you the best chance.
This is Spotted Hyena's general behavior. Once enough sightings are logged in Kruger National Park, this page also shows when they're actually seen here.
Where to look for Spotted Hyena in Kruger National Park: best roads and waterholes
Drive
S21 N'watimhiri Road, S110 Matjulu Loop and H1-9 Pafuri Gate Road run through mixed bushveld: good country for Spotted Hyena.
- S21 N'watimhiri Road27.3 km · mixed bushveld
- S110 Matjulu Loop24.4 km · mixed bushveld
- H1-9 Pafuri Gate Road22.2 km · mixed bushveld
Picked from habitat, not from sightings. opspoor shows where Spotted Hyena have actually been seen recently.
Wait at water
Spotted Hyena are drawn to water, especially in the dry season (May to October), so waiting at a waterhole is one of the best ways to see them.
Recent Spotted Hyena sightings in Kruger National Park
About the Hyena (Spotted)
The spotted hyena is a large, powerful carnivore of sub-Saharan Africa, recognised by its sloping back, strong jaws, rounded ears and distinctive dark spots on a tawny coat. It is highly social and lives in complex clans dominated by females. Spotted hyenas are skilled hunters as well as scavengers and can take a wide range of prey, from small animals to large antelope. They are particularly effective predators because of their endurance, powerful bite and ability to coordinate hunts.
How to identify the Hyena (Spotted)
Large, powerfully built hyena with a sloping back, large rounded ears and a distinctive spotted coat. The legs are long and powerful, the neck is thick and the tail is relatively short with a dark tip.
Other species to look for in Kruger National Park
Other parks where you can see Spotted Hyena
Easiest first.
Heading to Kruger National Park? opspoor shows where Spotted Hyena have been logged recently and lets you log your own, even with no signal.