Shortly after leaving Ndzhaka Camp on our first guided morning drive in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve earlier this month, we found a pack of Painted Wolves, better known as African Wild Dogs, in the road. There was great excitement among the younger Dogs in the pack as the adults had just returned to them with meat from a fresh kill, and all of them were in a very playful mood. We got some wonderful photographs and video of the Dogs playing around the vehicles at the sighting.
After a while we noticed two Cheetahs walking along the road in our direction, very aware of the Wild Dogs but apparently not fazed enough by them to immediately head for cover.
Two cheetahs walking along the road in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
It didn’t take long for the Wild Dogs to also notice the Cheetahs though, and they immediately set off in their direction.
Wild Dogs running along the road in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Now this is the point where I can kick myself! I thought I was videoing the whole sequence, but in the excitement I never pressed the recording button… Next time I will do better, I promise… As the Wild Dogs trotted ever closer one of the Cheetahs broke cover and charged at them, seemingly thinking that offense is the best defense. The Cheetah was however immediately surrounded by the adult Wild Dogs, hit with its front paws on the ground, hissing and spitting, and then ran through a gap in the Dogs and up a dead tree, where we pick up the action with a photograph or two.
With the Dogs satisfied that they’ve given the Cheetahs a run for their money and setting of on another hunt, we followed the now reunited Cheetahs for a while until they moved into dense cover where we lost sight of them. By then, the Wild Dogs had also ventured further into the bush and out of sight.
African Wild Dogs can cover enormous distances, and we found the pack again that afternoon, this time on a drive from Buffelshoek Camp. In the heat of the afternoon they were a lot less energetic and more content lazing in the shade at the side of the road than hunting.
Don’t miss the opportunity to visit Manyeleti along with DeWetsWild and Hannes Rossouw Photography!
DeWetsWild 
Lovely Dries – Great footage and pics. Here’s a very different Painted Wolf post for you! http://bewilderbeast.org/2022/08/24/small-world/
Wow! Proof that we’re all connected in some way even if there’s 8 billion of us sharing this planet!
Amazing and fascinating post, Dries. Great photos! I don’t think I would be able to video well in that excitement!
I think it took hours before I stopped smiling after this encounter, Jane. Seeing two of the rarest African carnivores interact like this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“Painted wolves”? Ek het nooit geweet dis hul regte naam nie … en baie gepas. Op jou eerste reeks foto’s lyk hulle omtrent uitbundig (seker soos tieners wanneer skool vakansie aanbreek 😁). Ek neem jou glad nie kwalik dat jy nie ‘n video van die ontmoeting tussen wilde honde en jagluiperde vasgevang het nie … ek sou vergeet het om asem te haal! En ek het nie geweet dat jagluiperde skrikkerig sou wees vir die wilde honde nie – dis interessant.
Mense verwag die term “Wildehond” met “Rondloper Hond”, Corna, en daarom dat baie kundiges eerder die naam “Painted Wolves” wil aanmoedig – dis verseker baie beskrywend.
Jagluiperds is inderwaarheid baie skrikkerig vir ander roofdiere. Hulle is gebou vir spoed en nie krag nie en kan maklik ernstig beseer word in n geveg. Selfs aasvoels, bobbejane en vlakvarke het al jagluiperd vangste gesteel!
I enjoyed your action shot of them running up the road, Dries.
Thank you very much, Tracy!
Wild Dogs and Cheetah – two wonderful animals to come across in the wild. You really had a FEAST of viewing there!!!!!
I couldn’t believe our luck, Anne! South Africa’s two rarest large predators interacting with each other!
Sjoe, bly die jagluiperde het weggekom. Baie drama. Jy het darem ‘n paar mooi fotos gekry.
n Onvergeetlike ervaring, Ineke!
Glo goed!
Sorry about the missed video attempt. I know that bad feeling. But what you got was just marvelous, so you did well. 🙂
Thank you very much, Janet!
Oh, my–the way they all flopped down together in that last video! 😆 So Painted Wolves are more dangerous than cheetahs? The wolves are definitely wiry looking!
Cheetahs, being built for speed rather than strength like the other big cats, are rather timid, Lois. Even vultures, baboons and warthogs have been known to chase them off a kill!
Thanks, Dries. I did not know that. Very interesting!