Flutts, The Brat and Mommo Looking for Caracal

[Flutterby]

So, we had come to our final afternoon drive in the park. The Brat was still desperate to find doggies. We'd had no luck south and west of Skukuza so we decided we should look east and try the S30. As we drove out of camp we saw BC and clan heading towards us. They waved us down and BC asked the Brat if he still wanted to see dogs! "Of course!" we all squealed, and BC told us they had just come from the S30 where there were some sleeping dogs! So, we had already chosen the right route...hopefully they would still be there.

We tried to keep calm en route but the Brat was praying all the way. About 8kms down the S30 we found this! They were all spread over quite a large area, on the part of the road that has a little pond of water on the right with the road splitting and going around the water. There were about 6 cars but there was plenty of space for everyone. You can imagine how happy the Brat was!



There was a Tawny in a nearby tree who kept taking off and coming back to the same branch.



The doggies were all lying down but quite restless and every now and then one would get up and stretch and then lie down again.









We had always heard about the wild dog waking and greeting ritual but had never seen it. All of a sudden, at some unseen signal, all the dogs got up and started running around, jumping and licking each other!! In the meantime we had driven around the pond and stopped so we were facing the dogs, putting ourselves in the perfect position where we could turn right or left depending on where they decided to go.





There was lots of action with the dogs running all over the place, and some being so kind as to walk right past us!



The next thing, they all settled down and seemed to go to sleep again!



Please excuse the overload of pics but this was out best wild dog sighting ever! There are still more to come.

[nan]

what a chance... for the last drive
always special to watch Wild Dogs

[Tina]

what a great sighting

Wonderful job finding the dogs. We have never been lucky when we were looking for something specific.

[Richprins]

So is that the Salitje road? A bit lost...

Wild dog have by far the most complicated social structure of local predators...maybe part of the reason they are scarce!

[steamtrainfan]

We are so pleased that you guys found wild dog and what a sighting it was too.

We know the exact spot you are talking about as Joan and I always say to each other as we drive past "Now wouldn't this be a nice spot to see something good."

GREEN _ GREEN _ GREEN and even more GREEN.

Bring on more pics.

[Pumbaa]

Love your lions rolling in the ellie dung - That is such a typical cat behaviour one simply had to do what the other just did and on top that perfume must have smelled awesome

Great bird shots as well, Fluterby, and then also wild dogs

What a fantastic trip

[Bushcraft]

I'm glad you guys scored with the dogs

Hopefully you got to see a proper greeting ritual, not just a half one

[Mel]

Hello Flutts and the Brat

Really enjoyed both of your lion photos - even they don't look so desirable with rolling in the dung and all.

There can never be enough pictures of a painted dog sighting and I hope the Brat will share his, too.
Very happy for him that he got to see them. Of course, also for you and your dad, Flutts.

[Flutterby]

what a chance... for the last drive
always special to watch Wild Dogs

Very special nan, and on our last drive too!

what a great sighting

Wonderful job finding the dogs. We have never been lucky when we were looking for something specific.

Thanks Tina...it was just luck and a bit of help from BC.

So is that the Salitje road? A bit lost...

Wild dog have by far the most complicated social structure of local predators...maybe part of the reason they are scarce!

Yes RP, it's the Salitje road.

We are so pleased that you guys found wild dog and what a sighting it was too.

We know the exact spot you are talking about as Joan and I always say to each other as we drive past "Now wouldn't this be a nice spot to see something good."

GREEN _ GREEN _ GREEN and even more GREEN.

Bring on more pics.

Thanks stf...more pics coming up.

Love your lions rolling in the ellie dung - That is such a typical cat behaviour one simply had to do what the other just did and on top that perfume must have smelled awesome

Great bird shots as well, Fluterby, and then also wild dogs

What a fantastic trip

Thanks for all your lovely comments Pumbaa!

I'm glad you guys scored with the dogs

Hopefully you got to see a proper greeting ritual, not just a half one

Thanks BC, for confirming our choice of road! More to come now.

Hello Flutts and the Brat

Really enjoyed both of your lion photos - even they don't look so desirable with rolling in the dung and all.

There can never be enough pictures of a painted dog sighting and I hope the Brat will share his, too.
Very happy for him that he got to see them. Of course, also for you and your dad, Flutts.

Glad you're enjoying the pics.

[Flutterby]

After a short dognap, the dogs all started their waking ritual again! We counted 15 altogether!











One of the doggies went to check out the water...but wasn't too sure!





Then, all of a sudden they gathered together, and started running down the road.



After a couple of off-road detours they headed up the other side of the road, and the Brat got very excited as he could hear impala's giving alarm calls. Then the dogs were off and chasing the impala!! This was the only pic I managed in all the excitement, and we didn't see a kill as the dogs disappeared into the bush, but what a sighting!! To see these apex predators, on the hunt, running at full speed was just amazing and something I will remember for a long time!



Here is a video of the excitement...excuse the quality (not sure why it's so poor ) and the commentary!!

You might have noticed the limping doggie in the video. He did lag behind during the hunt but managed to keep up.

So, after that fantastic sighting we headed back to camp. Along the H4-1, we saw a big traffic jam on one of the loop roads with people driving through the bush to get there , but we'd had enough excitement for one day and left them too it. We arrived back at camp as the gates were closing and settled down for our last braai. We had some new Japanese neighbours and enjoyed watching their evening ritual - the men prepared the food and the women set the table. It was all very quick and they were eating before our braai was even ready for cooking! Then the men disappeared and the women had a quick yoga session on the verandah!! Anyway, we enjoyed our last supper and then hit the hay early in preparation for our long drive home.