African Wild Dogs

Ask any hardcore safari lover what is on the top of their viewing agenda and the answer is more than likely the African Wild Dog.

The African Wild Dog is Southern Africa’s most endangered carnivore and the second most endangered carnivore in Africa after the highly localized Ethiopian Wolf. Towards the end of 2008 the unexpected arrival of a pack of 6 wild dogs around our camp caused great excitement amongst the guests and especially the guides.

There is always great excitement every time a sighting of the dogs is called in over the radio. I have been extremely fortunate to spend many hours viewing and photographing the dogs playing and hunting around my game drive vehicle, all the while completely at ease with my presence. Unfortunately, the number of animals in the pack has dropped to only 3 individuals, but we still see them on a regular basis. The African Wild dog is one of the most successful predators in Africa and in my mind the perfect hunter. Prey species I have witnessed them hunt successfully include impala, steenbok, duiker, impala, bushbuck and nyala.

The most exciting sighting so far happened on an afternoon safari. Abraham (my tracker) and I found the ‘pack’ not far from Leopard Hills Camp. After watching them for about 10 minutes, they got up and ran straight north to a nearby waterhole known as Hlaba Nkunzi Dam. We spotted a large herd of impala earlier at the dam and knew we were in for a great sighting. To our surprise a massive white rhino bull already occupied the waterhole and as the dogs approached the water, the rhino bull made it his duty to chase away the intruders. To witness such a great and rare sighting was very special.

Marius Coetzee
Head Guide – Leopard Hills
For more of Marius’ photography, check out his blog.