Skip to content
  • 1 800 414 3090
  • info@africansafarico.com
Facebook Linkedin-in Instagram
Inquire now
  • African Safaris
  • Marine Safaris
  • Travel Styles
  • Parks
  • Stories
  • About
  • Contact
Menu
  • African Safaris
  • Marine Safaris
  • Travel Styles
  • Parks
  • Stories
  • About
  • Contact
  • African Safaris
  • Marine Safaris
  • Travel Styles
  • Parks
  • Stories
  • About
  • Contact
Menu
  • African Safaris
  • Marine Safaris
  • Travel Styles
  • Parks
  • Stories
  • About
  • Contact
Inquire now
  • April 25, 2018

The Fight For Food

As I set out from Kapama Buffalo Camp, South Africa, with my guests, it had been a cooler autumn morning than what I expected. My guests were eager to see leopards, but the African Bushveld does not always play along with your plans. Often it seems Mother Nature has her own unique sense of humour. I decided to venture to the most northwestern section of the reserve, a place not frequented very often, other than by a few secretive leopards, so my hopes were high. A large hyena clan that are predominantly nocturnal, have also been spotted on the rare occasion.

We had been tracking two leopards, but their elusive nature resulted in no success. I decided to have one last drive past the nearby dam, Rooi Dam. As I came around the last bend, we heard an interesting commotion!

We could hear loud squeals that only hyenas know how to produce. My guests were so excited to see this clan of somewhat hysterical hyenas. Two of the hyenas looked like sub-adults but one can never be 100% sure when it comes to sexing them. The female’s genitals are enlarged so this can be tricky. Social behaviour and size are more commonly used.

The two were running around after a third and larger hyena who was fishing something out of the edge of the dam. As we approached it looked like it was pulling the remains of a young giraffe out of the water. Apparently tired of the two smaller hyena’s behaviour, she headed straight back towards the water. One hyena gave up and slunk away to another on the other side of the dam. To listen to the sounds of hyenas interacting is like no other experience I have ever had. It is loud and at an almost penetrating level, followed by hair-raising giggles.

We watched on as the large hyena finally won her right to feed and walked off to a shady spot on the southern side of the dam, leaving the smaller hyena to run off to find his friend. The third female now under a large Jackalberry tree (Diospyros mespiliformis), was joined by two other hyenas, most likely similar or higher ranking since they all fed together on the carcass.

We were now surrounded by hyenas each busy with their own activities. It was a unique sighting since it was during the day and we had been the only vehicle. This had definitely played a role in the hyena clan being as comfortable with our presence as what they seemed to be and to continue with their daily interactions in their complicated societies.

Even though we did not get to see the leopard, this was still a wonderful and interesting observation of nature, that you can only get in the open bushveld.
Story and photos by: Ranger Monika Malewski – Buffalo camp

Are you ready for your next big adventure? Inquire now

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Get in touch

Contact us today

Let our Africa and Latin America travel experts start putting together the perfect itinerary for your next big adventure! Call or email us to schedule a meeting to discuss your dream safari or tour.

Address: 1752 NW Market St # 520 Seattle, WA, 98107

Email Address: info@africansafarico.com

Telephone: 1 800 414 3090

Who we support

African Safaris

  • Botswana Safaris
  • Congo Safaris
  • Egypt Safaris
  • Kenya Safaris
  • Morocco Safaris
  • Mozambique Safaris
  • Namibia Safaris
  • Rwanda Safaris
  • South Africa Safaris
  • Tanzania Safaris
  • Zambia Safaris
  • Zimbabwe Safaris
  • Botswana Safaris
  • Congo Safaris
  • Egypt Safaris
  • Kenya Safaris
  • Morocco Safaris
  • Mozambique Safaris
  • Namibia Safaris
  • Rwanda Safaris
  • South Africa Safaris
  • Tanzania Safaris
  • Zambia Safaris
  • Zimbabwe Safaris

Latin America

  • Ecuador Adventure Tours
  • Galapagos Adventure Tours
  • Peru Adventure Tours
  • Ecuador Adventure Tours
  • Galapagos Adventure Tours
  • Peru Adventure Tours

Highlights

  • Beach
  • Cape Town
  • Culture
  • Gorillas & Chimps
  • Great Migration
  • Victoria Falls
  • Wine
  • Beach
  • Cape Town
  • Culture
  • Gorillas & Chimps
  • Great Migration
  • Victoria Falls
  • Wine

Travel Styles

  • Sustainability & Conservation
  • Exclusively Yours
  • Bush & Beach
  • Explorer
  • Family
  • Highlights
  • Romance & Honeymoon
  • Sustainability & Conservation
  • Exclusively Yours
  • Bush & Beach
  • Explorer
  • Family
  • Highlights
  • Romance & Honeymoon

Information

  • When To Travel
  • Travel Protection
  • Who We Are
  • Contact Details
  • Stories
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • When To Travel
  • Travel Protection
  • Who We Are
  • Contact Details
  • Stories
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

African Safaris

  • Botswana Safaris
  • Congo Safaris
  • Egypt Safaris
  • Kenya Safaris
  • Morocco Safaris
  • Mozambique Safaris
  • Namibia Safaris
  • Rwanda Safaris
  • South Africa Safaris
  • Tanzania Safaris
  • Zambia Safaris
  • Zimbabwe Safaris
  • Botswana Safaris
  • Congo Safaris
  • Egypt Safaris
  • Kenya Safaris
  • Morocco Safaris
  • Mozambique Safaris
  • Namibia Safaris
  • Rwanda Safaris
  • South Africa Safaris
  • Tanzania Safaris
  • Zambia Safaris
  • Zimbabwe Safaris

Latin America

  • Ecuador Adventure Tours
  • Galapagos Adventure Tours
  • Peru Adventure Tours
  • Ecuador Adventure Tours
  • Galapagos Adventure Tours
  • Peru Adventure Tours

Highlights

  • Beach
  • Cape Town
  • Culture
  • Gorillas & Chimps
  • Great Migration
  • Victoria Falls
  • Wine
  • Beach
  • Cape Town
  • Culture
  • Gorillas & Chimps
  • Great Migration
  • Victoria Falls
  • Wine

Travel Styles

  • Sustainability & Conservation
  • Exclusively Yours
  • Bush & Beach
  • Explorer
  • Family
  • Highlights
  • Romance & Honeymoon
  • Sustainability & Conservation
  • Exclusively Yours
  • Bush & Beach
  • Explorer
  • Family
  • Highlights
  • Romance & Honeymoon

Information

  • When To Travel
  • Travel Protection
  • Who We Are
  • Contact Details
  • Stories
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • When To Travel
  • Travel Protection
  • Who We Are
  • Contact Details
  • Stories
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
© 2023 African Safari Company
Join our mailing list
Facebook-f Linkedin-in

Sign up to our mailing list

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest safari news, exclusive offers and more!

Marine Safari
Destinations

Marine Adventure
Destinations

  • Madagascar Safaris
  • Maldives Safaris
  • Mauritius Safaris
  • São Tomé and Principe Safaris
  • Seychelles Safaris
  • Madagascar Safaris
  • Maldives Safaris
  • Mauritius Safaris
  • São Tomé and Principe Safaris
  • Seychelles Safaris

National Parks
and Reserves

Explore Parks

Botswana

Chobe National Park
Kalahari Desert
Linyanti Private Reserve
Makgadikgadi Pans
Mashatu Game Reserve
Moremi National Park
Nxabega Concession
Okavango Delta
Savute Region
Selinda Concession

Kenya

Amboseli National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
Masai Mara Game Reserve
Meru National Park
Nairobi National Park
Samburu National Park
Shaba National Park
Tsavo West National Park

Mozambique

Gorongoza National Park

Namibia

Damaraland
Etosha National Park
Skeleton Coast
Sossusvlei

Rwanda

Nyungwe Forest National Park
Volcanoes National Park

South Africa

Grootbos Nature Reserve
Isimangoliso Wetlands Park
Kapama Private Reserve
Kwandwe Private Reserve
KwaZulu Natal
Madikwe Game Reserve
Phinda Private Reserve
Sabi Sands Reserve
Thanda Private Reserve
Thornybush Game Reserve
Timbavati Reserve
Valley of 1000 Hills

Tanzania

Arusha National Park
Lake Eyasi
Lake Manyara National Park
Mahale Mountains
Ngorongoro Crater
Saadani National Park
Selous Game Reserve
Serengeti National Park
Tarangire National Park

Uganda

Bwindi National Park
Kasanka National Park
Kibale Forest National Park
Lake Mburo National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park

Zambia

Kafue National Park
Lochinvar National Park
Lower Zambezi National Park
North Luangwa National Park
South Luangwa National Park
Tsika Island
Victoria Falls

Zimbabwe

Gonarezhou National Park
Hwange National Park
Mana Pools National Park
Victoria Falls

Safaris by
Travel Style

Safaris by
Travel Style

  • Sustainability & Conservation
  • Exclusively Yours
  • Bush & Beach
  • Explorer
  • Family
  • Highlights
  • Romance & Honeymoon
  • Sustainability & Conservation
  • Exclusively Yours
  • Bush & Beach
  • Explorer
  • Family
  • Highlights
  • Romance & Honeymoon

Latin America
Destinations

Latin America
Destinations

  • Ecuador Adventure Tours
  • Galapagos Adventure Tours
  • Peru Adventure Tours
  • Ecuador Adventure Tours
  • Galapagos Adventure Tours
  • Peru Adventure Tours

African Safari
Destinations

African Safari
Destinations

  • Botswana Safaris
  • Congo Safaris
  • Egypt Safaris
  • Kenya Safaris
  • Morocco Safaris
  • Mozambique Safaris
  • Namibia Safaris
  • Rwanda Safaris
  • South Africa Safaris
  • Tanzania Safaris
  • Zambia Safaris
  • Zimbabwe Safaris
  • Botswana Safaris
  • Congo Safaris
  • Egypt Safaris
  • Kenya Safaris
  • Morocco Safaris
  • Mozambique Safaris
  • Namibia Safaris
  • Rwanda Safaris
  • South Africa Safaris
  • Tanzania Safaris
  • Zambia Safaris
  • Zimbabwe Safaris