Whilst on game drive with our guests this week in the North-western corner of the property, one of our Rangers came across the tracks of a small pack of African Wild Dogs – their tracks were fresh … clear to see in the loose sand after the small amount of morning rain!

The Rangers and Trackers immediately got to work, following up on these incredible animals.  It was not long before we found them, nestled amongst the grasses and shrubs, attempting to take cover from the rain that had once again started to fall.

Wild Dogs are social, communally hunting carnivores, which live in small cohesive packs typically composed of a dominant breeding pair, a number of non-breeding adults and their dependent offspring.  Within the Wild Dog pack all the males are related to each other and all of the females to each other but not to the males.  Females migrate into the pack, whereas males usually stay with their natal pack.  Only the highest-ranking male and female normally breed as they prevent reproduction by subordinate pack members.

It was incredible seeing these rare and endangered canines up close, photographs a constant reminder of this once in a lifetime opportunity …