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.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordSpotted Hyena10+ stays list it on site or nearby

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

Recorded in KwaZulu-Natal~170 records

Curve from 3,393 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. 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.

Mpumalanga

64%Limpopo

25%KwaZulu-Natal

3,393 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Spotted Hyena

5 places
Phinda Private Game ReserveKwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
5 places

Places to stay

10+ results in KwaZulu-Natal

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 285 birds recorded · African wild dog, Spotted hyena · Game drives

Price on request

&Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge

Hluhluwe

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 31,600 per night

&Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge

Hluhluwe

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Wildlife viewing

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 44,800 per night

&Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge

Hluhluwe

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Hiking

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 44,800 per night

&Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge

Hluhluwe

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Wildlife viewing

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 35,500 per night

&Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge

Hluhluwe

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Forest biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Hiking

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 36,200 per night

Sungubala Eco Camp

Drakensberg, Bergville

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Grassland biome · Spotted hyena, Leopard · Horse riding, Stargazing

Supports Royal Drakensberg Education Trust

From R 1,140 per night

Makongo Hills Lodge

Magudu

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 1 bird recorded · Leopard, Lion · Stargazing, Game drives

From R 1,280 per night

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Mpila Camp

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 50 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Hiking, Game drives

From R 1,420 per night

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Hilltop Camp

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 50 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives

From R 900 per night

Ithala (Ntshondwe)

Ithala Game Reserve

Spotted Hyena recorded here · Savanna biome · 43 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Hiking, Game drives

From R 130 per night

More stays nearby

Thonga Beach Lodge

Manguzi

Forest biome · 60 birds recorded · Humpback whale, Southern right whale · Canoeing, Snorkelling

Price on request

Rhino Sands Safari Camp

Hazyview

Savanna biome · 30 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Zululand Conservation Trust

From R 22,680 per night

Kosi Forest Lodge

Manguzi

Forest biome · 41 birds recorded · Hippopotamus, Nile crocodile · Canoeing, Fishing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

Price on request

Sasi Bush Lodge

Bergville

Grassland biome · Spa, Wine tasting

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 5,400 per night

&Beyond Phinda Homestead

Hluhluwe

Savanna biome · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Duma Manzi Wilderness & Wellness Retreat

Richmond

Grassland biome · 9 birds recorded · Spa, 4x4 trails

From R 5,990 per night

Dragonview Lodge

Cathkin Park

Grassland biome

Price on request

The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa

Drakensberg, Bergville

Grassland biome · 7 birds recorded · Horse riding, Spa

Supports Royal Drakensberg Education Trust

From R 4,280 per night

Drakensberg Vultures View

Cathkin Park

Grassland biome · Hiking, Horse riding

From R 1,691 per night

Penwarn Farm

Underberg

Grassland biome · Blesbok, Serval · Canoeing, Wine tasting

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,200 per night

Berghouse & Cottages

Drakensberg, Bergville

Grassland biome · Scenic drives, Hiking

From R 1,950 per night

Montusi Mountain Lodge

Drakensberg, Bergville

Grassland biome · 32 birds recorded · Bushbuck, Common eland · Spa, Horse riding

Supports Royal Drakensberg Education Trust

From R 6,800 per night

Qambathi Mountain Lodge

Nottingham Road

Grassland biome · 2 birds recorded · Bushbuck, Serval · Spa, Horse riding

From R 4,100 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Spotted Hyena

Hosts have recorded the Spotted Hyena at stays in or beside Phinda Private Game Reserve.

When to go, park by park

Here all yearEasiest viewing

Best months to visit each park where hosts record the Spotted Hyena
Park	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Phinda	Here	Here	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Here	Here	Here

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.

Ways to look

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

Phinda

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 KwaZulu-Natal?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Spotted Hyena at stays in or beside Phinda Private Game Reserve. 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. 11 places to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal 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. Phinda Private Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.

What is the Spotted Hyena?