ekscrunchy

Thought this might interest those of you who share my own fascination with these animals:


http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/12/sc...unt-.html?_r=0

DonTopaz

That's a terrific read, ekscrunchy -- thanks! Lots of good info.

My favorite recollection of encountering dogs (this was at Lebala) was seeing their exuberant and noisy socializing (video: http://vimeo.com/1460950 ) -- just amazing.

On another drive, we were following a pack whose leader had been gone for several days. To try to better hear the leader's howl, one of the females put her ear on the ground -- the dogs know that a solid substance such as the earth carries sound far better than a gaseous substance such as air. Just in case you, like me, had never considered where the expression "have an ear to the ground" came from. [The pack and their leader were eventually reunited, I was told.]

And I'm really happy to be headed to SLNP later this month -- hope I get to see the dogs once more.

christabir

Thanks ek. They are fascinating and get very little attention. I have been reading some blogs by wild dog conservationists lately and they have not been as successful as hoped. I love their packs - comparing them to bees is interesting!

My favorite reserve in KZN S Africa is getting ready to receive wild dogs in the spring (our fall). Hopefully they will be successful. Holding thumbs for this new project.

I had heard about Kaza years ago, and I'm thrilled it is still being considered.

We keep going back! Hope to see them soon!

ekscrunchy

Christabir, I have learned much from your posts here. Many thanks. We hope to return to Botswana in 2016; I had my one and only sighting of wild dogs in the wild at Stanley's Camp and it was a highlight of a trip filled with highlights. One day hope to have the fortune to visit Zambia as well.

christabir

ek - thanks. Ditto. We've seen dogs once - laying down in the dark at Mashatu. My bucket list (this week) - pangolin, dogs, suni. I get a little jealous hearing of more and more great sightings of dogs, and deliriously happy they are being seen. The more we talk about them, the more they will be accepted as a tourist draw. But from what I understand, dogs eat a lot and travel far - so it's hard to keep them on most reserves. Plus they dig under and climb over game fences, even when electrified (that I'd like to see!)

We are planning our "big trip" to Botswana in sept 2016 to celebrate their 50th birthday!! It won't be a normal trip like we are used to reading about here (we won't be able to afford that) but we hope to be in Gaborone or Francistown on Sept 30 for a street party. Maybe that will be the year we do Kalaghadi NP, but no dogs, eles, rhino there. Just found Jennmann (sp?) Safaris that I have to look into more as a possible option.

Open invitation to all for Sept 2016! Botswana does a lot right. Looking to retire to KwaZulu Natal, so in 2021 or so, plan to visit!! Hluhluwe-ImFolozi, Mkuze, Phinda (do they have dogs?), Zululand Rhino Reserve, Tembe - wild dog paradise!! Plus iSimangaliso Wetland Park - beaches, diving, whales, even golf. Great stuff going on in KZN.