Hyena Nights & Kalahari Days

by Gus Mills, Margie Mills

In this fascinating account of scientific study among forbidding wilderness, a husband-and-wife team describe their trek to the Kalahari to study the little-known brown hyena. The details of the scientific inquiry are provided while the daily challenges of living with children 420 kilometers from the nearest town are described. Despite the hardships, the couple becomes so enchanted by these intelligent animals that they stay for 12 years, documenting many hyena clans and observing behavior only a handful of people have ever seen.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Africa, Biography

256 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2010

Reviews

[Max Boock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first half of the book that recounted their scientific study and observations of brown and spotted hyenas in the Kalahari. It isn’t all numbers and statistics, but rather recounts of interesting and notable observations in the field.

The second half of the book was more about their personal living experiences in the Kalahari. I personally read this book solely for the accounts of hyenas, so the second half wasn’t as interesting for me.

I wish Margie had gotten more academic credit/notoriety for her involvement in the work. She devoted so much of her time to her husband’s studies, and he received a masters and phd and she didn’t, despite both of them being excellent and dedicated scientists.

[Jono · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute gem for anyone fascinated by wildlife and life in the African bush. Gus Mills masterfully blends scientific insight with human storytelling, offering a rare window into the lives of both brown and spotted hyenas. The pages are filled with facts, eye-opening behavior, and some encounters that could only happen in the Kgalagadi. Beyond the hyenas, it’s also a heartfelt account of the challenges and resilience shown by his wife Margie as she navigates the harsh and isolated conditions of bush life. It’s equal parts thrilling, informative, and personal — a must-read for nature lovers and adventurers alike.

[Michelle Leech · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating study of hyena behaviour by Gus Mills and account of the life, triumphs and struggles of 12 years in the Kalahari by his wife, Margie Mills.
I enjoyed every single page, each of which evoked all the long lost dreams of my heart.

[Gerrit off to Storygraph · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a whole the book gives a very interesting insight in the circumstances under which the important hyena research in the Kalahari took place. The book is littered with interesting anecdotes on life in the Kalahari.



The book is characterised by a double focus. The first part, written by Gus Mills, focussing on the carrying out of research on hyenas. The second part, written by Margie Mills, focussing on living in the Kalahari.



The first part provides a very lively account of hyena behaviour. The fascination that the Mills' have for hyenas is infectious. Hyena lives are illustrated not by presenting loads of data (this can be found elsewhere), but by lively accounts of forays following hyenas. Witty anecdotes abound, giving insight in the individual characters of several hyenas figuring in the study.



The second part of the book on living in the Kalahari at times feels more like an enumeration of events. However, since the events taking place are invariably interesting, dramatic and/or funny, this part still held my attention very well.



For anyone interested in ethological research and/or the lives of large carnivores, this book is a must.

[Geoff Glover · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a very interesting and insightful account into the little understood Brown and Spotted Hyena in South and Western Africa (Kalahari Desert). Gus and Margie Mills give a detailed personal account of their study and their everyday lives over the course of many years while learning details about these two species of Hyena. It is a very interesting read and anyone who finds Hyena interesting or wishes to know more about them must read this book. The goal of the authors is to dispel the misunderstanding and much maligned reputation of these interesting animals. I read it on a whim and now Hyenas rank as one of my favourite animal species in the world. Very worthwhile read - I recommend it highly.

[Tom Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read, window into biological research in a remote and exotic place. And hyenas, which have become a slight obsession with me.

[Ex Libris Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hyenas are my absolute favorite African bush carnivore. They are incredible. After seeing them in person for the first time, I sought out this book to learn more about them and live vicariously through the authors' experiences and research. This book makes me dream of the African bush. I can hear the "whoop whoop" of the hyenas just by looking at the cover.

[more · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. So breathtaking.

This book would have been a fantastic 5 stars if Margie had written the entire thing. The first half written by Gus were a little dry.

Thanks for sharing your story.