Follow wild dogs in the South Luangwa

How to find the charismatic painted dogs in a vast untouched wilderness

What you'll do

With its tie-dye coat and mouselike ears, it's easy to see why the African wild dog (or the more endearing 'painted dog') has become a talisman of a true safari. They are also one of Africa's most endangered carnivores but thanks to unwavering conservation efforts, there are now over 350 mature painted dogs in the Luangwa Valley. While these animated hounds are constantly on the move to avoid their nemeses (lion and hyena) and sniff out prey, the fantastic guides in South Luangwa have a trick or two for tracking them - and you might just see them mid-hunt. Most active in the early morning and late afternoon, you'll set out from camp (we know some good ones) in good time, looking for the pack.