Golf has never really been described as a particularly wild sport, but a nine-hole course in the Kruger National Park – one of South Africa’s largest and most popular game reserves – may just change that. This unfenced course, located on the outskirts of Skukuza rest camp in the center of the reserve, adds a little thrill to guests’ golfing experiences.
The most recent wildlife encounter on the links took place on the third hole. Staff woke up to the shrill laughs, yaps, and moans of hyenas and found them in the midst of a feeding frenzy right in the middle of the fairway. A giraffe had been taken down by a pride of lions in the early morning, but the big cats became outnumbered by a clan of hysterical hyenas and fought retreated from the carcass. By the time camera-wielding staff arrived on the scene, the hyenas were in the midst of a mad scuffle to claim the meal.
The footage, shared by Skukuza Golf Club, reveals the chaos that can ensue when lions take down large prey. The kill turned into a free-for-all buffet for opportunistic hyenas and vultures and the big cats, although stronger, soon became outnumbered and intimidated by the ruthless scavengers. At one point, the hyenas chased a lioness away from the carcass towards some nearby bushes where more lions were apprehensively waiting for their turn to feast.
Staff reports moved the carcass off the course later that day, allowing guests to enjoy the bloodied fairway, hopefully keeping a close eye out for straggling predators.
Unexpectedly, this isn’t the first unusual ‘hazard’ that’s been recorded on the Skukuza course. These fairways and greens have had many wild visitors, which is why gutsy golfers are required to sign an indemnity form before hitting the links. From a playful leopard to a pack of wild dogs, there is never a dull moment when you play on one of the wildest golf courses in the world.