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Your chances of seeing Brown Hyena in Pilanesberg National Park
Trophy sighting. Brown Hyena are one of the trophy sightings of Pilanesberg National Park: hard, but never impossible. Drive early and late, and open opspoor before you head out to see where they've been spotted recently.
When to see Brown Hyena in Pilanesberg National Park
Brown Hyena are most active at night (19:00 to 05:00). 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 Brown Hyena's general behavior. Once enough sightings are logged in Pilanesberg National Park, this page also shows when they're actually seen here.
Where to look for Brown Hyena in Pilanesberg National Park: best roads and waterholes
Drive
Moruleng, Thlware and Dithabaneng run through mixed bushveld: good country for Brown Hyena.
- Moruleng3.9 km · mixed bushveld
- Thlware2.6 km · mixed bushveld
- Dithabaneng12.5 km · mixed bushveld
Picked from habitat, not from sightings. opspoor shows where Brown Hyena have actually been seen recently.
Wait at water
Brown 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 Brown Hyena sightings in Pilanesberg National Park
About the Brown Hyena
The brown hyena is a predominantly nocturnal hyena of southern Africa, especially arid and semi-arid regions. It has long, shaggy brown fur, a dark throat and a prominent mane along the back. Unlike the spotted hyena, it relies heavily on scavenging but also eats small mammals, birds, insects, eggs and fruit. Brown hyenas generally forage alone but live within small social clans and maintain large territories.
How to identify the Brown Hyena
Shaggy, dark brown coat with irregular darker markings, long hair around the neck and shoulders, relatively short hindquarters and a bushy tail. Unlike the spotted hyena, it lacks obvious round spots and has a much shaggier appearance.
Other species to look for in Pilanesberg National Park
Other parks where you can see Brown Hyena
Easiest first.
Heading to Pilanesberg National Park? opspoor shows where Brown Hyena have been logged recently and lets you log your own, even with no signal.