There are two kinds of jackals--black backed and side striped.  We didn't see any side striped this trip, so these pictures are all of black backed.  They are principally scavengers, known for their cunning and slick darting in to steal a morsel from a carcass surrounded by lions.  We only saw them waiting in the wings for lions to finish.  They are a favorite prey of leopards, who apparently have a preference for canine meat.

We saw all of these in the daytime which is unusual, since they are more often nocturnal.  This mature pair was just standing around in the grass.  You can tell that one of them knows where something interesting might be.

These youngsters--slimmer and with their markings not quite as well defined--were resting in the shade.  They looked to us as though they were waiting for Mom and Dad to bring home the bacon.

There were three of them, with this one being the most handsome.  They didn't run away when we drove near, which surprised us, as jackals are usually quite shy.  Maybe they had been told to wait there.

If this were my Momma, I would do what she said, wouldn't you!

Hyena, on the other hand, both scavenge and hunt, feeding on anything they find.  Known for their keen sight, hearing and sense of smell, they also have very powerful jaws, that can crack a heavy giraffe leg bone.  Although cunning, powerful, and treacherous, they are also afraid of lions and wild dogs.  They have a very complicated social structure, with the larger females dominating the pack.  They are very fast and hunt either alone, in pairs, or in packs.  They often find their food by following vultures and lion calls. Although somewhat doggy looking, hyenas are not canines, but have their own private, category:  crocuta

I never realized how spotty and cat-like their coats were.  They are low in the rear and have a loping sort of gait that they can keep up for hours.

Hyena droppings are very easy to identify--they are very white because of all the mineral and bone content in them--that's today's trivia.

Hyenas are sometimes called the undertakers of Africa because they clean up the carcasses after the predators.  They are very interesting and misunderstood animals--a lot more research needs to be done, as there is still much to learn about their family structure and lives.

Hyena really do have a laugh like the cartoons portray them, but it's their rising hooooooo-whooop in the night that is one of the real 'sounds of Africa' to us.  It's hard to spell--someday I'll do a real one for you.........