Unexpected Desert Drama
While exploring the arid beauty of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, private safari guide and photographer Andrew Aveley stumbled upon a sighting few are lucky enough to witness. A visit to a remote waterhole took a surprising turn when he and his group were met by a chorus of yips and growls echoing across the sand.
Two elusive brown hyenas were locked in a dramatic and noisy, physical altercation. Andrew and his group watched in amazement as the hyenas went back and forth at each other ferociously!
A Mysterious Encounter Unfolds
The scene was equal parts chaos and choreography. The two hyenas wrestled and lunged at one another, teeth bared and bodies twisting as water splashed in every direction!
Their interaction was long and intense, lasting over 20 minutes before they finally disappeared into the surrounding dunes. It was difficult to tell whether this was a fight over territory, dominance, or something more playful veiled in aggression.
Andrew’s group seemed to assume the latter, letting out a few chuckles while watching the pair splash about in the water.
Desert Ghosts
Brown hyenas are among the most elusive carnivores in southern Africa. With shaggy coats, striped legs, and dark manes, they are well-adapted to the dry, rugged terrain of the Kalahari.
Unlike the more commonly seen spotted hyenas, brown hyenas are solitary or live in small clans. They rely heavily on scavenging, often travelling long distances each night to locate carrion or steal unguarded kills.
Sightings of just one brown hyena are rare, seeing two interacting so dramatically is truly extraordinary!
Life in the Harsh Kalahari
Spanning Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, the Kalahari Desert is a semi-arid landscape known for its red dunes, sparse vegetation, and solitude. Despite its name, the Kalahari isn’t actually a true desert, it receives more rainfall than most deserts and is able to support a surprising array of wildlife!
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
From springbok and oryx to lions, meerkats, and elusive predators like the brown hyena, the Kalahari thrives with wildlife that have unique adaptations to survive in its extremes. The vast, open landscape offers both beauty and an intimate glimpses into animal behaviour that might be hidden in more lush environments.
Encounters like this one between two hyenas highlight the desert’s ability to surprise, even in its quietest corners.
Playful or Personal?
While some moments in the video seem almost playful, like exaggerated bites and shoulder bumps, the energy was undeniably tense. It’s possible the encounter was a territorial skirmish, a dominance dispute, or a fight over access to water.
Brown hyenas are known for complex social dynamics and use vocalizations like cackles, yelps, and whoops to communicate intentions. The back-and-forth yipping and body language in this video suggests a high-stakes showdown rather than harmless sparring.
This rare and captivating sighting reminds us of how much mystery still surrounds these misunderstood animals. Whether a show of dominance or a misinterpreted play session, the moment was a thrilling display of wild behaviour in one of the planet’s most remote places.
