Despite the odds, being the only 14 African wild dogs in a 75 000 hectares game reserve, perhaps this majestic diminishing species are a blessing in disguise, this hunting pack is known for roaming the park from east to west!
Image by Thapelo Seleka
Eyes focused just about perfect into the lenses and with their large oval shaped ears pricked while lying on the ground, offering all positions for spectacular moments of photographic experience, the dogs began disappearing into the bushes, they had just had a drink close by Jaci’s lodges Terrapin hide and now were heading south of the mountains.
Image by Thapelo Seleka
It was during a cold Monday morning with heavy rainfall having being experienced the night before, small puddles were filled with water and moments later behind the mountains was a loud deep prolonged sound of two male lions, vocalizing in anger.
Image by Thapelo Seleka
With the pack being accustomed to safari vehicles, the “painted wolves of Africa” opted a different direction rather than encountering a pride of lions.
Now heading east of the park with the survey of the area mostly dominated by flat surface and likely to avoid getting into trouble, a pack was overwhelmed by rays of the sun rise breaking through then gathered clouds.
Image by Thapelo Seleka
Image by Thapelo Seleka
They had found a tree just few meters away from the vehicles and began sleeping together in a group, for some reason they seem to enjoy one another’s company, who wouldn’t after what looked like a very long running distance of unsuccessful hunting in a cold morning.
Images & Text by Thapelo Seleka