Wild dogs are never a sighting to take for granted.
Across Africa, these painted hunters are among the continent’s most endangered predators. They cover vast distances, often disappearing from an area for weeks before resurfacing without warning, making sightings not only rare but unpredictable. A single sighting of a wild dog pack can feel like a stroke of luck. But when our guides and guests started spotting them more often than not? We knew it was something more.
Over the last few months, guests and guides around Hideaways Mogotlho Safari Lodge have found themselves talking about one thing more than any other. Wild dogs.
The first sighting of the season came when guides encountered the pack feeding near Mogotlho. For many, it was a welcome return. After all, it was around this time last year that the pack first denned in the area, with guests and guides following the story as the alpha female raised her pups nearby
Now, for a third consecutive season, the pack appears to be favouring the area around Mogotlho. Away from the busier regions, our private concession offers space, fewer disturbances, and the freedom to move largely undisturbed. Combined with healthy populations of impala, lechwe, wildebeest, and other plains game, this creates an environment with no shortage of prey for the many predators that move through the area.
Soon, it seemed as though the pack was everywhere. With eighteen members, it is a sizeable pack, and as sightings increased, guides began to spend more time following their movements.
From the search for a den site to the arrival of the pups and the hunts that follow, each traveler witnessed a different chapter. Together, their sightings reveal a glimpse into the lives of one of Africa’s most fascinating predators.
Traveler One: The Search Begins
On 1 May 2026, the first traveler’s encounter with the pack was brief.
The wild dogs were spotted in the middle of a hunt before disappearing once again. A true wild dog sighting. Fast. Fleeting.
Yet the most interesting part of the sighting came afterwards as Guide King George explained that the alpha female appeared to be heavily pregnant and that the pack seemed to be searching for a place to den just beyond the concession.
Traveler Two: The Waiting
Not even a week later, another traveler arrived, hoping to see Mogotlho’s wild dog pack.
This time, there was no sign of them.
Despite the growing number of sightings, the pack remained elusive. It was a reminder of why wild dogs continue to be one of Africa’s most sought-after predators. Even when they are spending time in a particular area, there are no guarantees. Looking back, their absence may have been the clue.
Only days earlier, the alpha female had been reported as heavily pregnant. Now the entire pack seemed to have vanished. Somewhere beyond view, preparations were continuing. The search for a den site appeared to be over.
Traveler Three: The Pups Arrive
When the third traveler arrived at Mogotlho on 22 May, the story had changed.
During an afternoon game drive, the traveler encountered the alpha female resting outside the den. She was alone. According to the guides, she had given birth just three days earlier. The pups were still too young to emerge, remaining hidden safely underground while the rest of the eighteen-member pack hunted nearby.
The guides later located the other wild dogs and spent time watching them hunt. Impala scattered in every direction as the pack worked together, while even wildebeest turned and chased the dogs in an effort to defend themselves. This particular hunt ended unsuccessfully.
The following morning, the traveler headed out on another game drive and encountered the pack once more. As the game drive was drawing to a close, a small group of wild dogs suddenly appeared, running towards the vehicle before passing by at speed. Blood stained their faces and necks, clear evidence that a hunt during the night had been successful. Their destination seemed obvious, and the guides decided to follow them all the way to the den.
Arriving at the den just outside our concession, they watched as one of the wild dogs approached the entrance and called towards the mother hidden inside. Moments later, she emerged. What followed was one of the most remarkable sightings of all.
The pack began feeding her through regurgitation, allowing her to remain close to the pups while still receiving food from the rest of the group. It was a powerful reminder of the cooperation that defines wild dog packs and the important role every member plays. While the alpha female remains with the pups, the rest of the pack hunts, protects, and provides.
Heading out on the next game drive, the traveler never expected to be lucky enough to encounter the wild dogs for a third time, especially within the space of just a day and a half. This time they were resting near the den, their work done for the moment. Fed, settled, and waiting for the next hunt.
The Sightings Continue
Now, as the dry season settles in around Mogotlho, the story continues.
The den remains active. The pups continue to grow. New sightings are reported almost weekly, with the pack expected to remain active around the den until September.
Whether these are the descendants of the pups first seen here years ago, now old enough to help raise the next litter, or an entirely different pack choosing the same corner of the Khwai, no one can say for certain.
For now, one thing is clear.
If you hear a guide pick up the pace after a radio call around Mogotlho, there is a good chance the pack is out.
