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Wild dog
Asset 11

Wild dog

Where to see wild dogs in South Africa

African wild dogs are among the continent’s most compelling animals. Much misunderstood, these rare, tie-dyed canids are amazingly efficient hunters with a fascinating social life.


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Quick facts about Wild dog

Scientific name: Lycaon pictus Habitat: Savannah & woodland
IUCN status: Endangered Adult weight: 20–36kg

South Africa is home to around 600 African wild dogs. These fall into three broad categories. First, there are 300–350 in the Greater Kruger National Park, which has remained their last stronghold after being eradicated elsewhere and is one of Africa’s most important populations. Then there is the ‘metapopulation’ – a scattered collection of smaller, fenced reserves across the north and east, where wild dogs have been reintroduced in recent decades and are now intensively protected and monitored. These include Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal (introduced 1980) and Madikwe Game Reserve in Northwest Province (introduced 1994). Finally, there is a small free-roaming population outside protected areas, largely in Limpopo Province in the far north.


1.9–5.2kg

Daily meat consumed

±60%

Kill success rate

10

Average litter size

8–10 weeks

Pups abandon den

The top camps for seeing wild dog in South Africa

Based on 2 reports by our travellers since Jun 2018, visitors at these camps in South Africa have the best chances of sighting wild dog.


Best chances to see

Good chances to see

Some sightings

No sightings yet

Top 10 camps for wild dog

% of travellers who saw wild dog

Top 10 camps for wild dog

% of travellers who saw wild dog

Best areas to see wild dogs in South Africa

African wild dogs wander widely and so are often hard to track down. If you find them, stay with them: they are typically unconcerned and you may witness a hunt.


South Africa: wild dog hot spots

You stand a decent chance of spotting wild dogs in Kruger National Park, especially in the hilly south-west, where lions are less abundant. But the park is vast, the bush dense and you must be in the right place at the right time. Your odds may improve in Sabi Sands and the other private concessions that make up the Greater Kruger along the western border. In KwaZulu-Natal, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve has around ten packs, and has seeded smaller populations on nearby reserves, including uMkhuzi, Tembe and Somkhanda. Perhaps South Africa’s most reliable wild dog viewing can today be enjoyed in the more arid lands to the north-west, notably in Madikwe Game Reserve which today has at least three packs, well-established and habituated to vehicles, and Tswalu Kalahari, where 12 pups were born in 2023.

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Our best South Africa holidays for wild dog sightings

Based on our travellers' reports, these ideas for South Africa safaris are likely to give the best wild dog sightings


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The Highlights of Africa

17 days • 7 locations
CAPE TOWN AIRPORT TO KIGALI AIRPORT

An epic adventure taking in some of Africa’s most incredible sights and wildlife experiences, from Cape Town to the Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls, the Maasai Mara and an encounter with mountain gorillas.

US$15,310 - US$19,700 per person

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Leopard Safari

13 days • 4 locations
VICTORIA FALLS AIRPORT TO CAPE TOWN AIRPORT

Victoria Falls, Botswana and Cape Town – a classic southern African itinerary combining luxury, wilderness, safari and culture. We can't think of a better way to spend two weeks.

US$13,520 - US$18,080 per person

View all holidays to South Africa

More information about wild dog in our other destinations

Click here for detailed information about wild dog in other countries, including the places for sighting wild dog.


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