The landscape of the Khwai Concession is dominated by the Khwai River and operated by the local communities, who take exceptional pride in their local and natural heritage. Located on the north-eastern edge of Moremi Game Reserve, this remarkably stunning concession is one of the smallest in Botswana, yet also one of the most scenic. The region is vast so generally the prime time to see wild dogs is during the dry winter months between May and June, where water can become scarce, wildlife congregates and wild dogs establish den sites. The Delta area and in particular Moremi Game Reserve (located in the Delta) provides a sanctuary for several packs of wild dogs. In other words, where there is a decent concentration of game… predators are never far behind. Walking and horseback safaris give an opportunity to immerse yourself in to the wilderness of Hwange.Ī number of the lodges also have viewing hides, usually positioned on the edge of waterholes, providing brilliant opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography.Ĭlassic Zimbabwe with a luxury twist, this trip takes in some of the finest lodges the country has to offer within its game-rich and wonderful scenic National Parks including Hwange, Lake Kariba and Mana Pools.Īnywhere in vast open northern Botswana is a good bet for wild dog sightings, with the Okavango Delta being a huge magnet for wildlife. There are plenty of activities to do in Hwange besides traditional vehicle-based game drives. With no permanent natural waterholes the best time of year to visit are the winter months between July and October when wildlife congregate around available water sources. Hwange National Park is roughly the size of Belgium and filled with savanna grasslands and mopane woods making it ideal habitat for wild dogs as well as huge herds of elephants. The park is home to one of the longest running conservation initiatives – Painted Dog Conservation Project, which is committed to protecting, rehabilitating and reintroducing packs of dogs in to the wild throughout Zimbabwe. Which is amongst the largest concentration in Africa. Where to stay – Vundu Camp and Little Vundu CampĪlthough Mana Pools may have stolen the lime-light from Hwange, which is Zimbabwe’s largest national park, during BBC’s Dynasties series, it is home to around twice the number of wild dogs with numbers rumoured to be around 200 in over 30 packs. Secondly is the more remote area known as Chitake Springs – which, during the long, dry winter months is the only source of water for miles around, forcing wildlife to congregate, which in turn attracts predators packs of wild dogs and prides of lions, who lie in wait to ambush those who come and drink at the spring. The best time to see wild dogs is the winter months between July and October as the dogs tend to den close to the waterfront areas. Firstly, along and near the water pools and banks of the Zambezi River which flows along the northern most boundary of the park, which form a natural barrier with Zambia and the Lower Zambezi National Park across the water. There are two main areas which are very productive when it comes to finding wild dogs in Mana Pools National Park. And, it is one of the few places where you can experience wild dogs on foot, under the supervision of an experienced guide. It’s also renowned for providing exquisite lighting, backdrops providing unique photographic opportunities. Mana Pools was the setting for the Wild Dogs episode of David Attenborough’s ‘Dynasties’ wildlife series. Watching wild dogs is always interesting – they have complex social interactions especially when they wake, greeting each other and are often very playful – you’ll be amazed at the similarities you’ll see between wild dogs and your loving companion back home.īelow are some of the best places to see wild dogs - there are other regions where populations exist, but my recommendations stand you the best chance of seeing these marvellous predators. Territory sizes for these critically endangered canines can be vast, so choosing the right place to go to see them is important (as well as the right time of year). Once the pups are a few months old, packs will often move them from site to site – so between March and October are probably the best times to see wild dogs as they won’t have the ability to move very far with a number of small pups in tow. However, they usually den between March and June with pups being stashed away in den sites. Due to the nature of having huge home ranges, seeing wild dogs can be a little tricky, depending where you go.
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