Camper survives attack by two hyenas at Cape Vidal

Nicolas Hohls (27) from Sunset Farm in Eshowe, was sleeping in his tent late on Saturday when two hyenas attacked him at the popular seaside camping site at Cape Vidal in northern KwaZulu-Natal. He suffered bite wounds to his head, face, hand and leg and was recovering in the Netcare Alberlito Hospital in Ballito after plastic surgery to his face on 31 August.

A Johannesburg businessman lost part of his nose after being bitten by a hyena in his tent at the same campsite just three weeks ago, while a Nelspruit man was mauled on his face when a hyena clamped its jaws through the plastic gauze of his tent window in 2016, also at the Cape Vidal campsite.

While the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife agency, which is responsible for conservation management in the park, has cautioned all visitors not to feed animals and to ensure that tents are closed securely at night, other regular visitors have suggested that the regular appearance of hyenas at this camp was “a disaster waiting to happen”.

Describing the latest attack, well-known Eshowe farmer Colin Hohls said he was sleeping in a roof tent nearby when he heard his son screaming in agony.

“We went up there with some friends, and I had gone to bed in a separate tent. Nic came back after me and said he zipped up the door, but there was a slight opening at the top.”

They assumed one of the hyenas managed to get its head through this gap and force the zip further downwards to get inside.

“The first hyena grabbed his leg and tried to pull him out the tent. Then the second hyena came in and went for his face and head. Now there were two attacking him, so he shoved his hand down one of their throats as far as he could. He also tried to gouge out one of their eyes.

“When I heard him screaming, I ran across with a torch. It all happened so fast, but I think they were driven off by the combination of Nic fighting back and also being disturbed by the light from my torch.”

Hohls Snr said his family had been camping at the site for nearly 20 years, “but over the last few years the number of wild animals in the camp has become a real problem.

“Cape Vidal is a beautiful place, but it has just gone backwards over recent years. Given the previous attacks, they should either eradicate dangerous animals or put up a proper fence around the place.

“I have not heard a word from Ezemvelo since the attack, and that is a bit concerning.”

Hohls is expected to be discharged from hospital this week following further observation.

“The medical team have done a great job. The wounds were bad, but it could have been 10 times worse,” said his father.

Three weeks ago, the Zululand Observer reported that a Gauteng businessman was attacked by a hyena at the same site.

He told the newspaper he was on a fishing excursion with friends and was attacked in his tent at about 3.30am.

“I pushed it off, but [the hyena] came back at me three times, biting me on the arm until I managed to kick it on the mouth. I was bleeding profusely, and relatives with me on the fishing trip rushed me through to Empangeni.”

In another attack, in 2016, the Zululand Observer reported that Nelspruit visitor PJ Theron was asleep on a stretcher in a small tent with the window flap open when a spotted hyena bit through the gauze and grabbed his face.

More recently, a group of visitors who camped at Cape Vidal last month reported seeing a hyena den directly behind Campsite 28.

The group had been very cautious about safety due to the visible presence of hyenas, bushpigs, honey badgers, samango and vervet monkeys, a lone baboon and fresh leopard prints.

“It’s been a disaster waiting to happen, I’m afraid,” commented one of the visitors.

Approached for comment on the latest attack, Ezemvelo said: “We are appealing to all campers at its facilities to refrain from feeding animals and to ensure that their tents are securely closed before going to sleep.

“This follows an incident over the weekend at Cape Vidal, where campers who had left their tent open after a party were attacked by hyenas. Ezemvelo has since taken steps to capture the hyenas roaming around the campsite, after which appropriate decisions regarding their management will be made.” DM