A Hyena Takes an Early Morning Swim

Marie Frei July 9, 2014

About the Author

Marie is AWF's former Membership Services Associate. With her background in the travel industry and experience living in Southern Africa, she is most interested in how the right balance of conservation and tourism can benefit both people and wildlife. She is an avid photographer and blogger,… More

A hyena at Kieliekrankie Wilderness Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa

Shortly after sunrise, at Kieliekrankie Wilderness Camp in South Africa,  as I settled into my balcony chair with my rusk and a coffee, I noticed a lone hyena on the horizon.

A hyena drinking at a watering hole at Kieliekrankie Wilderness Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa

He wandered down the hillside to the watering hole and stopped momentarily to drink.

A hyena takes a dip in a watering hole at Kieliekrankie Wilderness Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa

He looked around—as if to check that no one was watching—and proceeded to walk straight into the watering hole. Like a bird fluttering in a birdbath, he wiggled back and forth, giddy with excitement.

A hyena running at Kieliekrankie Wilderness Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa

I couldn’t help but smile as he ran out of the hole and galloped around before vanishing back over the horizon.

**I don’t know if it’s a he or she—hyenas are really hard to tell (but that’s another story!)

Learn more about hyenas!