Hyena Chase (also known as “Hyena” or “Li’b el Merafib”) is a traditional race game originating from North Africa (Sudan). Players race their “mother” pieces along a spiral track from the village to the well and back. After one player completes the round trip, they release a hyena that moves at double speed and devours any mothers it overtakes on the return journey. The game combines luck with tactical decisions about when to move.
Components
1 Spiral track board (series of circles forming a spiral from the outside village to the center well)
1 Mother piece per player (2-4 pieces)
1 Hyena piece
Throwing sticks or a six-sided die (traditionally uses throwing sticks)
Setup
Place the spiral track board in the center.
Each player takes one mother piece and places it at the village (start of the spiral).
Set the hyena piece aside — it is not used until a player completes their journey.
Determine who goes first.
Turn Structure
On your turn:
Roll the die (or throw the sticks).
Move your mother piece forward along the spiral track by the number shown.
If you roll a 6, you get an extra turn.
Journey Phases:
Village to Well (outbound): Move along the spiral from the outside to the center.
Washing at the Well: Upon reaching the well, your mother must “wash clothes” — you must roll a 6 to leave the well and begin the return journey.
Well to Village (return): Move back along the spiral from the center to the outside.
Actions
Starting
A player must roll a 6 to move their mother from the village onto the first circle of the spiral track.
Moving
Move your piece forward the number of circles shown on the die.
Pieces travel along the spiral path in order.
Reaching the Well
You must roll the exact number needed to land on the well space. If your roll exceeds the remaining distance, you must wait and try again next turn.
Once at the well, the mother “washes clothes” until the player rolls a 6, then begins the return journey.
Returning to the Village
On the return trip, move your piece back along the spiral toward the village.
An exact roll is NOT required to reach the village — any roll that equals or exceeds the remaining distance completes the journey.
Releasing the Hyena
The first player whose mother returns to the village wins the race and gains control of the hyena.
The hyena must be released from the village with a roll of 6 (same as mothers).
The hyena moves at DOUBLE the die roll (e.g., rolling a 4 moves the hyena 8 spaces).
The hyena travels the same outbound path toward the well.
Hyena Attacks
Any mother piece that the hyena passes or lands on during its movement is “eaten” and removed from the game.
The hyena does not need to stop — it simply removes any mothers in its path.
Scoring / Victory Conditions
The first player to return their mother to the village wins the race.
After winning, the player controls the hyena to eliminate remaining players’ mothers.
Players whose mothers are eaten by the hyena are eliminated.
The game continues until all mothers have either returned to the village or been eaten.
Special Rules & Edge Cases
Rolling a 6: Always grants an extra turn, whether starting, moving, leaving the well, or controlling the hyena.
Exact landing at well: You must roll the exact number to reach the well. Overshooting means waiting for the next turn.
No exact landing at village: Unlike the well, returning to the village does not require an exact roll.
Hyena double speed: The hyena always moves twice the die value, making it extremely fast and dangerous.
Traditional throwing sticks: In the traditional version, throwing sticks are used instead of dice, with different stick combinations producing different move values.
Multiple mothers: Each player controls only one mother piece.