While exploring Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park just after Christmas, we encountered a spotted hyena in the west of the reserve. In typical hyena fashion she was walking determinedly and at some speed along the road, and so we followed in the hope that we might see her hunt.
Not long after, she picked up a herd of zebra standing in the road ahead, and made a run at them. The tables were quickly turned however, as the dominant stallion of the zebra family sent our over-ambitious hyena running for cover…
(Click on any of the photos to enjoy the sighting with us in a carousel gallery)
The story of the (over) ambitious hyena
The story of the (over) ambitious hyena
The story of the (over) ambitious hyena
The story of the (over) ambitious hyena
The story of the (over) ambitious hyena
The story of the (over) ambitious hyena
The story of the (over) ambitious hyena
The story of the (over) ambitious hyena
DeWetsWild 
Dom vrou!! Memorable, indeed!! 😉
Of dom, of vreeslik selfversekerd!
Good on him…. Makes for a fab shot and story.
Thanks Sedge!
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Baie dankie Spokie! Dit was nogal heel vermaaklik!
Great photos. The hyena had certainly met his match, 🙂
Thank you! Knowing hyenas, I’m sue she’d consider it only a minor setback 😀
One brave and successful zebra stallion!
Doing a very good job of looking after his family I’d say!
Oh wow! The hunter becomes the prey….
Next time she’ll bring her friends to the fight 😉
That must have been an amazing encounter!
Very different end to what we thought it’ll be Aletta 😉
Don’t Hyena’s run in packs? Maybe a hungry mama out for a bite by her self ?? Do they ostracize their own? They are so darn ugly! (my opinion,lol..)
Thanks for the very interesting questions!
Quite right, spotted hyenas live in communities, called “clans”. They often set out on their own from the den site, and then when they find something big enough to share they’ll call in the rest of the clan with their characteristic whooping call. When hunting big game, like zebra, they’ll usually do so in a group. They have a strict matriarchal society, and the dominant female will certainly not tolerate any others challenging her own or her cubs’ status in the clan.
Even though they’re not “classic beauties” we love hyenas; they always seem so purposeful and deliberate in their actions.
That Hyena should just stick to nicking people’s steaks from the braai 🙂
Thanks for the funny comment Maurice!
I can see in my minds eye the hyena hobbling over thinking he’ll scare the zebra and then the encounter with the zebra taking a go back at it .
It was an unexpected and very funny turn of events Ineke 😀
Great shots! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for visiting Patty!
Fabulous guys. How nice that the stallion sent the hyena packing. Have a super week 🙂
The scene sure had us in stitches in the car Joey 😀