The Best Places To See Wild Dog

The Best Places To See Wild Dog

Where are the best places to see the elusive African wild dog? It's the burning question for anyone planning a safari. Here are the top 5 areas where you will have the best chance of spotting one of Africa's rarest carnivores.

1. South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

With population numbers increasing, the exhilarating experience of seeing wild dogs is becoming a staple of South Luangwa game drives. Although traditionally only seen in the rainy season, the park is now seeing wild dog more regularly and in larger numbers throughout the year.

Where To Stay:

Get back to nature with a stay at the rustic Nsolo Bush Camp and enjoy the exhilarating experience of a walking safari in this remote part of the park.

2. Linyanti Reserve, Botswana

Anywhere in the north of Botswana is a good bet for a wild dog sighting, but if you have to choose one area to visit then we recommend visiting Linyanti. A landscape of open floodplains and scattered woodland, the privately run reserve is packed with prey and supports several roaming packs.

Where To Stay:

Base yourself at Linyanti Bush Camp and let the guides show you the wonders of Linyanti on game drives, walks and seasonal mokoro canoe trips.

3. Mana Pools, Zimbabwe

Every year wild dogs den in and around Mana Pools and provide visitors with regular and exciting sightings through the safari season. Interestingly, there are no wild dog sightings on the opposite bank in the Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia  - at least not for a number of years now. But this may change at any time!

Where To Stay:

At Kanga Camp, you can let the game come to you while you look over the camp’s waterhole.  It is particularly productive in the dry season as it is the only source of water for miles around.

4. Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa

The African wild dog is the flagship specie of Madikwe, which is famous for its packs of the small, feisty predator. The reserve is only four hours from Johannesburg and is also malaria-free, which makes it great for families. It is home to many other game species, including Africa’s famous Big 5.

Where To Stay:

Tuningi Safari Lodge is a great option for families and their wonderful guides will do their utmost to track down wild dogs as well as lions and leopards.

5. Selous, Tanzania

Selous is three times bigger than the Serengeti and home to 100,000 impala, which makes it one of the best places in East Africa to see wild dog. Timing is very important. Being so huge, Selous sometimes hides its secrets but July and August are classic denning months for wild dogs and the shared responsibility of protecting the puppies keeps the pack near the den for a while. The last few months of Selous’ dry season - September and October - are also good months for wild dog sightings as antelope concentrate in large numbers around the remaining water sources.

Where To Stay:

Overlooking the Rufiji River, Sand Rivers Selous is the perfect base for exploring this remote reserve’s diverse ecosystems. The sandy dry river beds east of the camp are where wild dogs den.