A Field Guide to African Painted Dog

Chapter 4: The Best Places to See African Painted Dog

The Best Places to See an African Painted Dog

Zimbabwe: Hwange National Park

With approximately 5,660 sq. miles (14,650 sq. km) of protected area, Hwange, famous for elephants, is the largest national park in Zimbabwe.  It’s located in the northwest corner of the country about an hour south of Victoria Falls.

This is also the home of Painted Dog Conservation. They are doing fabulous work protecting the painted dogs (and other wildlife and the habitat) by involving and enhancing the well-being of the local community. Visit them when you are there! See “Encouraging News” Chapter 1 for more information. 

The best time to see wildlife in Hwange is the dry season, August through October, when the foliage is not as lush and the animals gather around the water holes.

Hwange National Park boasts 60 man-made water holes, several have raised wooden hides for better viewing. Stay awhile and watch the constantly changing parade.  

Temperatures can be hot during the day, but drop to freezing at night, and there are mosquitos. Come prepared.  

Wildlife Bonus:  Over 100 mammal species including: elephant, lion, rhinoceros, leopard, Cape buffalo, zebra, giraffe, roan deer, and jackal, and over 400 bird species. Look for the huge, mostly ground dwelling Kori Buster and ostriches. 

South Africa: Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park is a great all year destination with their winter (May through September) probably being the most comfortable in regard to weather as well as for viewing. Less foliage means wildlife is easier to spot.

Kruger Park is huge, actually the size of Wales or Israel, with an estimated 4,814,720 protected acres (1,948,448 hectares). Here painted dogs have the physical roaming area they need and it is estimated that between 400 and 500 make the park their home. 

The dogs tend to be found all over in the park’s mixed woodlands and savannahs, but the southwest section seems to be their favorite.  You are also guaranteed to see amazing numbers of other wildlife species including both African rhino species. Look in the southern regions for the white rhino. 

Wildlife Bonus: Lion, cheetah, leopard, Southern African giraffe, both black and white rhinoceros, elephant, vervet monkey, sable, kudu, and Cape buffalo. And the birding is world-class in Kruger National Park. A guided birding tour is well worth the effort.

The Road Less Traveled

Botswana: Chobe National Park

While Chobe National Park, a prime wildlife destination, is not generally a “road less traveled” for safari goers, painted dogs are so rare overall that the mere fact that they can be found here is reason to include it. 

Chobe National Park encompasses four distinctive eco-systems including the amazingly fecund Chobe River front, the Savute, the Ngwezumba pans, and Linyanti. In Chobe you can find a huge variety of wildlife and birds including Africa’s largest surviving population of elephants (120,000 individuals). These are migratory elephants, moving 125 miles (200 km) from river to pans seasonally. Painted dogs may be seen in the Linyanti River section of the park near the boarder with Namibia. The best time to visit is in their dry season: April through October. 

Wildlife Bonus: Savanna elephant, hippopotamus, lion, leopard, zebra, blue wildebeest, giraffe, tseessebe, Cape buffalo, and crocodile and over 400 bird species including fish and marshal eagles and sacred ibis and other wading birds and Pell's fish owl as well as all roller and king fisher species and many others. 

Best Practices for Viewing African Painted Dogs

Painted dogs hunt in the early morning and evening so you have two daily chances of seeing them at work. During the height of the day, they rest and sleep. The dogs move around considerably and for great distances at a time. The reserve’s guides will probably know where the dogs have been and where they are likely to be headed.  

No matter how much it resembles the friend sleeping at the foot of your bed, it is not.

RESPECT the ANIMAL’S SPACE: Wild animals – all wild animals – are most dangerous either when they are threatened, sick, or habituated to humans. Entering their territory can be perceived as a threat. Respect the animal’s space.

DO NOT CHASE: Never chase or follow (by foot or vehicle) an individual or a pack. Stay well back. Getting close to the animals causes stress and disturbs them from doing what they were doing: hunting, resting, playing.

DO NOT FEED: Do not invite aggression by trying to feed or entice a wild painted dog to get closer to you. Remember, a wild animal that becomes habituated to being fed by humans will expect to be fed every time a human is near. That animal will eventually become aggressive, endangering both human and animal. Wildlife that is aggressive to humans are exterminated. Protect wildlife. Allow it to be wild. 

TAKE A PROFESSIONAL NATURALIST GUIDE: A good wildlife guide knows the habits of the painted dogs in the area. A guide who works often in the park will be tuned into their habits and maybe relationships! There is nothing more wonderful than watching these amazing creatures in their wild home while your guide explains exactly what is happening, what is about to happen, and why. It is like having a personal window into their lives.

Go see the painted dogs! Their greatest enemy has been human fear and misunderstanding. Invariably, they become a favorite of those who have seen these enthusiastic, generous, and resourceful creatures in their natural environment.

Show and Tell

We want to hear from you! Do you have an African painted dog story to share - or would you like to see one?
Contact us. Put Painted Dog! in the subject line

MORE! 

Special Thanks

Peter Bliston, David Kuvawoga and Jealous Mpofu The Painted Dog Conservation, Hwange, Africa. Follow on Facebook 

Marc Cronje, Independent Field Guide, South Africa. Follow Marc on Facebook

Unforgettable Journeys