
Wildlife
African Wild Dog
The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), also known as cape hunting dog, African hunting dog, African painted dog, painted hunting dog or painted wolf, is a canid native to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Species insights
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Curve from 1,415 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Mpumalanga and beyond
Provinces where African Wild Dog is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,415 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the African Wild Dog
Stays that give back
Across KwaZulu-Natal
African Wild Dog recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 1,420 a night
African Wild Dog recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 900 a night
African Wild Dog recorded here · Savanna biome · African wild dog · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 13,000 a night
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 4,280 a night
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Zululand Conservation Trust
From R 1,280 a night
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 2 others
From R 5,400 a night
Grassland biome
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 5,990 a night
Grassland biome · Spotted hyena · Leopard
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,140 a night
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,691 a night
Forest biome · Humpback whale · Southern right whale
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Grassland biome · Blesbok · Serval
Gives back to Zululand Conservation Trust and 3 others
From R 1,200 a night
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,950 a night
Forest biome · Hippopotamus · Nile crocodile
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation and 1 other
Price on request
Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Common eland
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 1 other
From R 6,800 a night
Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Serval
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 4,100 a night
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome
Gives back to National Sea Rescue Institute
From R 3,995 a night
Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Vervet monkey
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 795 a night
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Savanna biome
Gives back to Zululand Conservation Trust and 2 others
From R 1,840 a night
Savanna biome · African elephant · Cape buffalo
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 14,000 a night
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Savanna biome · Giraffe · Nyala
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 3,280 a night
Rolling green hills, dairy farms, and pottery studios
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the African Wild Dog
Hosts have recorded the African Wild Dog at stays in or beside Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.
When to go, park by park
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hluhluwe-Imfolozi | Here | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here |
Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.
Best hours of the day
- First and last hours of daylight. The African Wild Dog moves and hunts in the cool.
- Midday, resting. Usually lying up in shade and hard to spot.
- After dark, on a night drive. Where the reserve or park offers one.
IUCN Red List
Endangered
Species
Lycaon pictus
Records
1,415
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the African Wild Dog on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the African Wild Dog in KwaZulu-Natal?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Wild Dog at stays in or beside Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the African Wild Dog in South Africa?
The African Wild Dog is most recorded in Mpumalanga (62% of records), Limpopo (23% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (8% of records), based on 1,415 iNaturalist observations. 3 places to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal have recorded the African Wild Dog on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the African Wild Dog?
The African Wild Dog is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the African Wild Dog?
The African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
What is the African Wild Dog?
The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), also known as cape hunting dog, African hunting dog, African painted dog, painted hunting dog or painted wolf, is a canid native to Sub-Saharan Africa.
























