Hyena Archives - Leopard Hills

Crazy eyes

Posted on 25 October 2018 by LH Focus Online

It is said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. It is said that eyes can tell a story. Some eyes you can gaze into for hours on end. However, some eyes are simply known as crazy eyes.

We are very fortunate to encounter leopards that are completely unfazed by the presence of our vehicles. Every so often, we do come across some leopards with a more skittish nature. We might get a quick glimpse of them and then they take cover.

Recently we were rewarded with a highly interactive sighting with a skittish male leopard called Homelite. When we found him he was in a tree feeding on his kill. Not only did we manage to see this elusive male, but he provided us with some great photos too.

To add to his elusive and mysterious nature, Homelite has some dark and deep-set eyes. Locking eyes with this spectacular beast can be quite a harrowing experience.

As it usually goes, some hyenas arrived on the scene. After completing most of the kill, Homelite started to shift around in the tree. He must have miscalculated his movements and knocked the kill out of the tree. The hyenas wasted no time and grabbed the carcass and took off.

One hyena stayed around and waited for Homelite to leave the tree. The leopard showed his displeasure and snarled at the hyenas and then at us. He quickly maneuvered down the tree and ran away as is common practice for this male.

Written by: Cal Butler

Lions and hyena with a python kill

Posted on 27 July 2018 by LH Focus Online

Plans don’t always go according to plan. Even on game drive plans can change in an instant.

Ranger Cal and his tracker, Mowell, were heading down to some lions not too far from the lodge. On the way Mowell spotted a hyena in a clearing. He suggested we quickly view the hyena and then head off to the lions. As we approached, Mowell said, “I think it is eating something”.

We approached the hyena and nobody could believe their eyes. In its mouth hung a large African Rock Python. We don’t know what killed it.

To add to the spectacle, some impala started alarm calling in the immediate vicinity. We knew they weren’t phased with the hyena. We decided to go investigate as the lions were not too far from the area. As we drove through the block we spotted two Mhangene subadult lions hiding in the grass.

The two felines waited patiently until the hyena moved off. They approached the kill with great caution and eventually tucked into their meal.

This was the first time that both Cal, Mowell and our guests had ever seen this type of sighting.

Written by: Cal Butler

The Beautiful One

Posted on 11 July 2018 by LH Focus Online

Seeing the resident animals grow up successfully is always a great pleasure. We got word that the young female leopard, Sasekile, was on an impala kill nearby. She is no longer dependent on her mother, Thlangisa, and manages to take care of herself very well. Sasekile has only recently been named and means “The Beautiful One”.

As we arrived at the sighting, we found Sasekile stranded in a tree. She was surrounded by 11 hyenas who had stolen her kill.

Once the frenzy had finished, the hyenas left the area and the young leopard wasted no time and made her way out of the tree. She continued moving through the thick grass. Further on she found a beautiful Marula tree and climbed it to scout for more unsuspecting impala.

Sasekile pressed onwards and spotted some impala in the distance. The wind and sun’s position was in her favour. She sat patiently looking for the best way to stalk. The image below shows just how well she camouflages in the surrounding vegetation.

The impala had no idea that she was there. She crouched down low and stealthily made her way closer to the antelope. She made it to within a couple of meters of them until she was rudely interrupted by a tree squirrel that set off the alarm and spoiled the hunt.

Written by – Cal Butler

Prying Pups

Posted on 2 July 2018 by LH Focus Online

Termite mounds do not usually stir up a great deal of excitement. However, from time to time you may just find some treasure inside.

There has been a flurry of activity around a well-established termite mound recently. One of the hyena dens is active again.

Seeing petite little pups pop their heads out of the holes brings great joy and excitement to our guests. It does not take long before the pups become comfortable with our presence and come closer to investigate.

Once the sun starts to go down their energy levels peak and the pups will practice their stalking and hunting techniques on their unsuspecting siblings.

Here a little one decides to guard the hole as mother took a little nap.

Written by: Cal Butler