Kalahari desert

In 2013 I had the opportunity to visit South Africa and our first destination was the Kalahari Desert. During a bio-break, I got out of the car and was surprised when a spotted hyena suddenly appeared just 20 metres from me. Although it was a potentially dangerous encounter, I remained calm and appreciated the beauty of nature and this wild animal.

Spotted hyenas are known for their powerful bite force, which is about 920 kiloponds (kp). By comparison, lions have a bite force of 650 kp and German shepherds have a bite force of 230 kp. Spotted hyenas are also social animals, living in packs of up to 130 individuals.

Despite the potential danger, I was relieved when the hyena eventually ran away, allowing me to safely continue my journey.