In the soft light of early morning, before the sun had fully breached the crater rim, a rare and haunting scene unfolded in Pilanesberg Reserve. A brown hyena—shaggy, spectral, and seldom seen—was spotted feeding on the remains of a fallen elephant near Ratlhogo Hide. The air was still, the moment primal. For Diana and the conservation participants present, it felt like witnessing something ancient and sacred.
This sighting is more than a stroke of safari luck. It’s a window into the quiet resilience of one of Africa’s most misunderstood carnivores. Brown hyenas, unlike their more vocal and social spotted cousins, are solitary scavengers. They thrive in the margins, often unseen, yet play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance.

The hyena’s werewolf coat bristled, and its powerful jaws worked methodically through sinew and bone. Pilanesberg’s rugged terrain offers ideal denning sites and quiet corridors for these elusive animals.  Known locally as the “strandwolf,” the brown hyena faces threats from habitat loss, persecution, and vehicle collisions.
Pilanesberg’s exclusion of spotted hyenas has created a rare sanctuary where brown hyenas can thrive.  Brown hyenas are rarely seen feeding in daylight, especially on large carcasses like elephants.  They are nocturnal creatures and often stay away from large carcasses due to competition.
Scavengers like the brown hyena help recycle nutrients and prevent disease by consuming decomposing matter.