Warthog - Botswana Wildlife Guide

Botswana Distribution:

The interaction of Hyenas with Warthogs in Botswana is very interesting. Personal observations do not indicate why a Hyena chooses a particular Warthog to chase. Often a number of Warthogs will pass by Hyenas and the Hyenas will barely take notice but all of a suddenly hey will chase a particular individual.

Best places to see them:

Chobe River/Chobe National Park, Linyanti and the Okavango Delta in Botswana

General notes:

One of Africa’s most lovable animals the Warthog has been presented in books and movies in a very favourable light. And some of its habits give credence to its reputation. The Warthog is also a fearless character, often standing up to predators. Personal observations have shown Warthogs not shying away from Lions and Hyenas – and in some cases the Warthog even chasing the predators away. Despite their bravado they do fall prey to predators often.

Drinking and mating

Animals have a natural tendency to be cautious when approaching a waterhole for hidden dangers often lie in wait. For many species it is an agonisingly cautious approach. There is one animal however that does not care for waterhole etiquette – the Warthog will simply trot in and have a drink.

Warthogs often fall prey to predators such as Lion, Leopard and Hyena but they do not go down without a fight. I have personally observed Warthogs chasing off hyenas that had been stalking the Warthogs and on one particularly memorable occasion I viewed a Lioness chasing a Warthog across the floodplains of Chobe. After a dash of about 75 meters the warthog suddenly turned in midstride to face the lioness. She stopped meters from the Warthog, made a few gestures then moved off. The Warthog continued on its way.

Warthog mating is the stuff of legends. When there is a female in season the dominant male will walk around making a clicking sound, of uncertain origin, and foam at the mouth. This foam apparently stimulates the male. Male Warthogs will stay mounted for up to an hour. Often a meal has been disrupted by the antics of Warthogs on the open Botswana floodplains in front of the lodges. This can cause some hilarity with guests.

Infanticide

Infanticide is known among species but I had never seen it in Warthogs until the day at Mombo that saw a boar killing the two piglets of a family that lived in the vicinity of the lodge. What the explanation is for this behaviour is still vague. It may have been a new male in the area and he was killing the cubs of the previous male.

The interaction of Hyenas with Warthogs in Botswana is very interesting. Personal observations do not indicate why a Hyena chooses a particular Warthog to chase. Often a number of Warthogs will pass by Hyenas and the Hyenas will barely take notice but all of a suddenly hey will chase a particular individual.