The playing area is traditionally marked on the ground, but may be drawn on paper.
It has a sequence of many circles arranged in a spiral, each representing a camp and the end of a day's journey.
There is also a piece to represent the hyena, which is unleashed by the winning player to jeopardise the return of the other mothers.
The players move their mothers according to the roll of a die (traditionally pieces of stick were used).
The first player to get their mother back to the village (an exact throw is not required) wins the game.