The sound of yips, yelps, screams and squabbles is an intriguing sound, but hardly the sound of a sophisticated predator. Yet, the African wild dog (or painted wolf) is considered the most successful hunter in Africa. They are a beautiful contradiction in the African ecosystem. With an endearing quirkiness to them, with long, lanky legs and mickey mouse ears, exquisite colouring and infectious joy in their nature. Household puppies rolling around and chasing each other one moment and highly-focused hunters the next moment. Part of their struggle is this enduring narrative that only follows them on the hunt and dubs them ‘killing machines’. But that is why I prefer to tell the story of the ‘underdog’.
We were walking on the shoreline of the Zambezi River in Mana Pools, a place where animals and humans roam on foot in harmony. Our senses were heightened, reconnecting to the primal insights of the environment; listening, watching and walking. We stopped to admire an impressive eland, amazed by his size. Our incredible guide Alf spotted a round ear in the distance. One of the painted wolves had stood up and Alf’s hawk-like eyes had spotted him. Our hearts pounded in our ears as Alf told us we should go closer to inspect. We stopped under a tree and there they were – 17 of them, 7 adults and 10 pups.
They were perfectly framed, resting under two large Ana trees.
Photographer: Shaun Stanley
Content with us in their presence. Alf said we could edge a bit closer. Slowly moving, one at a time, staying as close to the ground as possible. Their ears perked as they became more aware of unknown sounds and smells in their territory while their pups tussled around with each other. they settled back down to have an intimate moment resting under the tree. They hunt in the day to avoid larger predators. We watched one of them regurgitate some of its kills this is how they feed their pups, the pups swarmed around yapping and fighting in excitement.
The next day, on route to Zambezi Expeditions, we stumbled across the family again. On the edge of a dry riverbed, they were spread between a termite mound and some trees. Looking at us curiously, almost as if they recognised us, wishful thinking maybe. We edged closer and closer. This time the adults really warned us, standing their ground, jumping up with yips and yelps, guarding their precious cargo and their territory. We crossed the dry riverbed, to create a barrier between us and them. We sat on the other side, behind a dead tree watching as they moved into the sun, played, stretched, greeted each other and then set off into the distance. Front row seats to admire these creatures in their natural habitat. We were the privileged witnesses to the daily happenings in this wild dog pack. In just two days we had seen the dogs twice, they were almost becoming family.
“The family is one of the most powerful forces in nature”
– Sir David Attenborough, The Dynasties Series.
This is what the Sir David Attenborough series ‘Dynasties’ is explored in Mana Pools National Park, in the basin between all three of our camps; Nyamatusi Camp, Kanga Camp and Zambezi Expeditions. The series leverages off the principle of the strength and protection but also power struggles within a family and how this relates to their external survival challenges. This beloved species is shown in a different light; challenges of dwindling environment, rival predators, politics within the lineage, and human impact. Historically, they have faced an enormous amount of human-wildlife conflict and have become heavily endangered – their numbers have dropped from 500,000 a century ago to just over 7,000 today. The Dynasties story is an important narrative for these predators, to show the other side to these animals when they’re not hunting. That they’re complex, charming and in need of space to flourish.
Why Mana? Because this is the one place you can walk with wild dogs and feel like you’re having an ‘Attenborough’ moment yourself. Wild dogs are some of nature’s most enigmatic and elusive creatures. They face many challenges, including this enduring narrative of killers, defending their young from larger predators and human impact. In actual fact, they are as endearing as our beloved domestic dogs; playful, inquisitive and social.
Photographer: Shaun Stanley
The stars of this episode roam in the arena of the Zambezi escarpment, Mana Pools. Renowned as one of the least developed national parks in Southern Africa, almost 70% of the park is only traversable by foot. An explorer’s paradise. By being able to walk in a big game national park, the barriers between you and nature are removed, it truly is one of the most engaging ways to experience wilderness and wildlife. The animals here are habituated to seeing people on foot and are therefore very comfortable when approached by groups of safari-goers (under the supervision of a professional walking guide) The beloved painted wolves, or wild dogs as they are known, fight daily for their place within this ecosystem.
To follow in the traces of Sir David Attenborough, we have opportunities for you to track and walk alongside them. Sign up for our newsletter, at the bottom of this page, to hear all updates about the wild dogs and tours.
