Wild dogs are one of the most exciting animals to see when on an African safari.

These incredibly sociable, frighteningly efficient hunters are always on the move, working their way through the bush looking for their next opportunity.

One of James' most memorable game drives was in South Africa's Sabi Sand Game Reserve, following a pack of dogs. Relive this bucket list moment below:

Our drive began as the bush was stirring back into life after another baking hot day under the African sun. We were barely out of camp when we came across a huge herd of around 200 impala at one end of the dirt airstrip. It was early February at the time so there were plenty of mothers with calves, and a handful of bachelors milling about.

We had only been with the impala for a matter of minutes, watching the elegant antelope go about their day, when our guide spotted the flash of a wild dog’s white tail at the far end of the airstrip. We quickly moved up towards them, and were delighted to find a decent pack of 15 dogs in full hunting mode; noses to the ground squeaking, chirping, twittering to each other as these incredibly social animals do.

The impala, with eyesight evidently far worse than our guide’s, were yet to spot the dogs, and were happily continuing their afternoon grazing in the sun, oblivious to the apex predators that were prowling just 400m away. 

Within seconds of us joining the dogs at the top of the airstrip, they had locked onto the herd of impala and the hunt had begun. What started as a walk swiftly developed into a trot, before breaking out into an attacking run; the pack perfectly in sync with one another, with the alpha female leading from the front. Meanwhile, we were trundling alongside the dogs with front row seats to the unfolding action, very much feeling a part of the pack! As the dogs approached top-speed, they splintered into smaller hunting groups, aimed at confusing the herd of impala who had now clocked the impending danger and had scattered in every direction.

For me personally, there’s nothing more impressive than this - watching a highly efficient predator in its prime with eyes fixated on its prey. It’s truly one of the pinnacle moments of any African safari.

More often than not, a large herd of impala, particularly one that includes young, versus a pack of dogs of this size, results in a kill. Wild dogs are incredibly successful hunters; their intelligent technique combined with phenomenal stamina is a force to be reckoned with. 

A good-sized pack of wild dogs such as this may need to hunt up to four or five times per day to survive (depending on the size of what they catch). After a very quick feed on one of the impala calves, and a short rest of 20 minutes or so, the dogs were on the move again, walking purposefully through the bush on the prowl for their next meal.

We were able to follow them for a couple of hours that afternoon on two sensational hunts, a scuffle with a clan of hyenas, followed by a good wallow in an incredibly stinky hippo pool to cool down afterwards.

It was a truly exhilarating afternoon in the bush, and one I won’t forget in a hurry!

James