Wild dogs are the second most endangered mammals on the continent of Africa. Ravaged by rabies and canine distemper their numbers have plummeted and their habitats have been severely impacted. There are very few reserves that are able to house these spirited and voracious predators as they require huge areas to roam and, depending on the size of the pack, will kill several times a day.

Here at Sabi Sabi we are fortunate enough to fall within the home range of these fascinating creatures. They pop in for a visit every month or so, staying anything up to a week scouring through the bush for their next meal. We found them on the afternoon safari laying in the shade in the southern section of the reserve. There were only three vehicles in the south as the rest had gone north and were enjoying sightings with 2 leopards on an impala kill and the Southern pride of lions all sleeping in the shade of a marula tree. We had all the time in the world to wait for them to get active again. It had been a hot afternoon and they had opted to sleep through the heat and get moving again as the sun dropped and it got cooler.

When they eventually got ready to move the pups got all excited and started chirping away and playing with each other. The adults took part in the play taking the opportunity to stretch their muscles and then scouted out which way they were going to head off. We followed them as they crossed a large open area and found a mud wallow that was full of water from the rain that we had had over the last few days. They took the opportunity to take a bath in the water with all the dogs jumping round with excitement, playing and biting one another before shaking themselves off and heading off on their evening hunt.

We left them only to find a female leopard resting up next to a small pan and breathing heavily. By her pot belly we could tell she had eaten recently and had come to pan for a drink and a rest before going back to her prize. What a magical day in the bush...