Hyena Crashes Boma Dinner in Zimbabwe

A viral video shows a hyena wandering into a boma dinner at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, startling guests but causing no injuries (image source)

A lone hyena wandered into an open-air boma dinner at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge on the evening of 07 October, sending guests scrambling as staff guided the animal back toward the bush. The incident, captured on multiple smartphones, has since gone viral, reigniting debates over wildlife-tourist interactions in Zimbabwe.

Video footage shows around 20 diners frozen in place as the hyena padded between low fires and clay pot dishes, sniffing for scraps. One guest, Claudia Weber from Germany, said the animal paused just two metres from her table before trotting off when a guide clapped loudly. The lodge quickly closed the perimeter gates and resumed service after a 15-minute delay.

A Victoria Falls Safari Lodge spokesperson issued a statement emphasizing guest safety. “No one was harmed,” the release reads. “Our protocols for nocturnal wildlife encounters were followed, and we are reviewing fence reinforcements to prevent future incursions.” The lodge’s management also offered complimentary transfers to dinner guests for the next three evenings.

Eyewitnesses hailed the moment as thrilling rather than frightening. “It felt like a National Geographic special unfolding live,” said tour operator Mark Chiyangwa, who posted the original clip on Twitter to his 12,000 followers. His video has racked up over 500,000 views and sparked dozens of wildlife-tourism discussions in just 48 hours.

Wildlife experts note that hyenas are increasingly emboldened by easy access to human food waste. According to a University of Zimbabwe Faculty of Veterinary Science newsletter, ecologist Dr. Tendai Ncube explains that nocturnal lodges often attract scavengers when bins are left unsecured. “Hyenas learn quickly,” Ncube writes. “Regular fence patrols and properly sealed refuse areas are essential to minimize these surprise encounters.”

Tourism stakeholders warn that such viral moments can be double-edged. While Zimbabwe’s wildlife interactions are a major draw, safety lapses could harm the industry’s fragile post-COVID recovery. According to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), arrivals to Victoria Falls were up 18% year-on-year through September, but concerns over unpredictable wildlife behavior persist.

Boma dinners — traditional feasts around open fires — have been part of Zimbabwe’s tourism offerings since the late 1990s, blending local cuisine with cultural performances. Operators across Hwange and Matobo National Parks emphasize immersive wildlife viewing, but this is the first recorded hyena intrusion at a major lodge’s dining area.

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge plans a full review of its night-safety protocols and will host a stakeholders’ meeting on 15 October to discuss wildlife-tourist guidelines. As Zimbabwe’s tourism sector rebuilds, hoteliers and guides face growing pressure to balance authentic safari experiences with rigorous safety measures.