A meeting with a Painted wolf family

The Painted wolf is the biggest reasons why I travel to Zimbabwe and Mana Pools this weekend. The Painted wolf, aka Painted dog, is probably species I like the most among the big predators of Africa. This is my account from the second time we stumbled upon a pack during our Mobile Safari in Botswana 2011.

This is by far the best Painted wolf sighting I have had. To be able to spend time with this pack of 10 animals, four adults and six playful puppies was something extra. We even had them for ourselves for over an hour.

Chobe River Front delivers

We stumbled upon them on our way to Kasane. More fuel and food where needed for the last two days of adventure. We stopped at one point, not that far from the gate as we saw a vehicle oddly parked by a bush. It did not take long until the first Painted wolf pup appeared from the bush. It saw an Impala herd further out on the dry riverbed and started to head in their direction.

An African Wild Dog, aka Painted wolf, family. Photo taken in October 2011 in Botswana, Chobe River Front

This picture is taken when the complete pack has come out and they all, more or less, look at the Impala herd. The herd took off as soon as they saw the first adult Painted wolf. By looking at this picture you might grasp the fluctuations of the river. When Chobe River is full everything in the picture will be under water. I would guess that it is more than 100 meter from where the Painted wolves are until you reach water’s edge. And, water attract animals making Chobe National Park teeming with life. It has one of the highest concentration of wildlife in Africa.

Back at the scene

Sadly we had to abandon the family as we had the need of getting fuel and food in Kasane, not the easiest mission I can say. To our surprise the pack was still present when we got back from Kasane. Of course we stopped and watched the interaction between the young and adults for an extended period. A really magnificent experience and something I hope to enjoy more times.

If you like you can read about my second sighting of the endangered Painted wolf here: Painted Wolf.

And, please keep your fingers crossed that I will meet them again during my week in Mana Pools, Zimbabwe.