I have just heard word that the guides at Mapula Lodge have located the densite of the extraordinary Mapula Pack. This makes 3 straight years that the highly endangered African Wild Dogs have denned in the Mapula Lodge area.

Mapula Pack wild dog puppies at 5 weeks of age.
Copyright Bill Given

I have a special affinity for this pack as they were the subject of my first published Africa Geographic Article as I documented a never before seen behavior of an older litter of puppies (from the dominant female) feeding via regurgitation the packs second litter (a subordinate mother), who were four months younger. This is believed to be a critical sacrifice by the older pups and a strong demonstration of how evolution has hard wired each individual to support the pack. It’s these kind of social intricacies that make this my favorite species to observe.

Mapula Lodge African Wild Dogs - Best Time to See Them

Birth occurs below ground inside a den and the puppies will generally remain there for about 4 weeks. Last year's puppies emerged in early August. We have many clients who have planned to try and see wild dogs and quite a few are booked to stay at Mapula Lodge in late August and early September so hopefully the den will be successful and we should have lots of great reports on the pack and this year’s puppies. I will be fortunate to personally be there at the start of September. Once puppies emerge I will post a new blog entry with the details.