Guest Post - Free Desktop Background - Wild Dog

 Free Desktop Background | Wild Dog

 This image was taken whilst I was guiding a group in the Madikwe Game Reserve. Madikwe is renowned for its wild dog sightings (hence our planned photographic safari focussing on wild dogs in 2011) and our group was very lucky to be able to sit with this pack of 13 individuals for well over half an hour as they played around in the late afternoon sun.

The scientific name Lycaon pictus is derived from the Greek for "wolf" and the Latin for "painted". Wild Dogs are the only canid species to lack dewclaws on the forelimbs. Like most members of the dog family, it is a cursorial hunter, meaning that it pursues its prey in a long, open chase and hunts in packs. Nearly 80% of all wild dog hunts end in a kill; for comparison, the success rate of lions (who use a stalk & chase technique), often viewed as ultimate predators, is only 30%.

There were once approximately 500,000 African Wild Dogs in 39 countries, and packs of 100 or more were not uncommon. Now there are only about 3,000-5,500 in fewer than 25 countries, or perhaps only 14 countries. They are primarily found in eastern and southern Africa, mostly in the two remaining large populations associated with the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania and the population centered in northern Botswana and eastern Namibia. Smaller populations of several hundred individuals are found in Zimbabwe, South Africa (Kruger National Park), and in the Ruaha/Rungwa/Kisigo complex of Tanzania. Isolated populations still persist in Zambia, Kenya, and Mozambique.

Guest Post by Andrew Beck

Andrew Beck is the owner of Moya Wa Tenga Safaris, a company offering bespoke safari itineraries, travel services and photographic safaris around Southern Africa. Andrew has spent much of his life in the bush and is passionate about sharing his experiences and knowledge with others. 

Reviewer Diary - Sanbona Private Game Reserve

Located a mere half an hour drive from the Avalon hot springs in Montagu on route 62 is the Sanbona private game reserve. The drive through route 62 was pleasant enough, but once we entered the reserve, the landscape became staggeringly beautiful with an overwhelmingly timeless feel and prehistoric quality about it. Sanbona is aptly named after the Khoi San word meaning ‘what the Bushmen saw’.

The drive from the main gate to the lodge was turbulent as the roads were being layered with a thick coating of crushed stones to prevent erosion, not ideal when not using a game viewer vehicle as guests would normally leave their vehicles parked at the main entrance to the reserve. One can immediately sense the huge expanse of the reserve and the rolling hills that go on forever over the horizon. We reached Gondwana lodge after 20 or so minutes and were treated to a friendly welcome which included chilled drinks and introductions to the staff. We were escorted to the rooms which all overlook a dam and once settled, we were taken on an afternoon game drive. The enthusiasm of our guide Mark was evident as no question was too vague or insignificant to warrant his full attention and soon we were well versed in the geology, history and bio-diversity of the area. The roads are scatted with ancient rocks and fossils and the area is rich in Bushman painting sites scattered about the reserve. Highlights of the drive included a very rare sighting of a brown hyena and sun downers at the side of one of the reserves largest dams. We left in a hurry to avoid the spattering rain and headed back to get ready for supper. All the guides and fellow guests meet in the lounge for drinks and discussions of the days’ sightings, a great incentive for the guests to socialise. The meals were excellent throughout our stay. The following mornings’ game drive saw us disembark from our vehicle to approach a few rhinos cautiously on foot.

We left Gondwana after breakfast for the rather striking Dwyka Tented Camp and were certainly not disappointed with the level of service and sheer luxury of the camp. Our afternoon drive with the Dwyka guide was equally rewarding and no effort was spared to track a herd of disease free buffalo in the north east quarantined section. Dinner that evening was again a social affair as we enjoyed our buffet style meal in the company of two delightful British honeymooners experiencing South Africa for the first time. It was a fantastic escape and the stunning moonscape panoramas of the reserve will be forever seared into my memory.

For more imformation about this reserve and others in South Africa visit gamelodgeindex.com

Photo of the Week - by Kerry de Bruyn

Photo by Kerry de Bruyn

You can view more images by Kerry on her blog and all images are copywright to Kerry.

Read more about  wildlife and safari properties on The Game Lodge Index