A Virtual Safari with The Wild Dogs of Africa

One of the most beautiful creatures to witness in the African bush is the African wild dog—also known as the painted wolf (the translation for their Latin name).

You might think these animals would be mangy with matted fur, but they’re actually quite spectacular in appearance—each one with it’s own unique coat pattern.

Some of the features that categorize the African wild dog are their huge, circular ears that stand straight up, pack-like formations, dog- and wolf-like appearance, and their black, tan, and white splashes of color (which looks like someone took a paint brush and splashed paint on their coats).

Below are some interesting facts and tidbits about the African wild dog:

• As an endangered animal, the African wild dog is an amazing treat to see in the wild! Some of the best areas to witness wild dog include Botswana’s Okavango Delta and Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park.
• Unlike the domesticated dogs you’ll find in the United States, wild dog only have four toes per foot (most domesticated dogs have five toes on each front leg foot).
• Just like wolves, the African wild dog is extremely social, living in a pack with an Alpha breeding couple as their leader. They share their food, which they will hunt in large groups. Their diet mainly consists of large animals that they attack as a pack, including wildebeest and antelope, but they can also be spotted consuming smaller prey such as birds.

During my recent adventures at Botswana’s King Pools Camp, I was delighted when I had the opportunity to witness some wild dog! Here are some of my pictures:

Another type of “African dog” found in the wildernesses of southern and eastern Africa is the African jackal. Arguably not as beautiful as the African wild dog, the jackal is also dog- and wolf-like in appearance, but with some differences from the African wild dog.

Below are some interesting facts about the African jackal:

• Ancient Egyptians once believed in a God called Anubus, who had a jackal-like head and was the God of the underworld and mummification. Whenever a jackal was spotted or heard during these ancient times, Egyptians believed the jackals were Gods of death.
• There are three species of jackal found on the African continent. These include the common jackal, side-striped jackal, and the black-backed jackal. But Africa isn’t the only place where jackals live; they can also be found in southeastern Europe, and southern Asia.
• Jackals will often form monogamous pairs and mate for life—that always makes me so happy to hear when animals do that!
• Like the African wild dog, jackals hunt in packs and will synchronize their attacks, using vocalizations.
• Unlike the African wild dog, which has rounded ears, the jackal has pointed ears that stand straight up.