A 27-year-old man is recovering after being attacked by two hyenas at Cape Vidal Nature Reserve in St. Lucia, South Africa, on August 30, 2025. The incident occurred while he was attending a bachelor party.
According to survivor Nicolas Hohls, who lives in Harburg, KwaZulu-Natal, the attack began shortly after 1:30 a.m. when one of the animals entered his tent through a small six-inch gap left unzipped for ventilation. One hyena clamped its jaws around his cheek and skull, while the other latched onto his left ankle.
“One went for my leg and the other for my face and head. I fought them off by ripping my face and ankle free, then attacking the eyes of one and forcing my hand down the throat of the other,” Hohls told PEOPLE.
Hohls said he relied on instinct to respond. “I realized what was happening and knew I had to fight to survive,” he explained. The struggle lasted about 60 seconds, which he described as “one minute of hell.”
The commotion alerted his father, Colin Hohls, who was sleeping in a rooftop tent nearby. “My dad jumped into action immediately. He found me in a pool of blood in my tent, put me in the car, and drove me straight to Ballito hospital,” Hohls recounted.
Doctors confirmed that Hohls sustained deep puncture wounds to his head, cheek, hand, ankle, and thigh. He required around 30 stitches but did not suffer any broken bones. Medical staff estimate his recovery will take approximately one month, provided there are no complications such as infection.
Hyena attacks on humans in South Africa are rare but not unprecedented. Wildlife experts note that hyenas are opportunistic predators and scavengers, and in isolated cases, they have entered campsites in search of food. Similar incidents have been recorded in parts of Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Tanzania, often linked to human-wildlife conflict in conservation zones.
Hohls emphasized that he had camped at Vidal multiple times before without incident. “That night I left a small gap for ventilation. If the hyenas wanted to get in, they would have found a way regardless,” he said.
The Cape Vidal Nature Reserve, part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, has not yet issued an official statement regarding the attack.
Public safety advocates highlight the need for reinforced camping protocols in wildlife reserves, particularly regarding tent security and waste management, to minimize animal attraction. Conservationists add that increased human presence in protected habitats often leads to more encounters with predators.
Hohls expressed gratitude for his survival and acknowledged his father’s swift intervention. “I’m very grateful to be alive and that I had the strength to fight back,” he said.
He is now focused on recovery and has reported steady improvement. “The doctors are happy with my progress, and there’s been no sign of infection,” he confirmed.
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