Whatshot
Boundless Southern Africa Expedition 16
Boundless Southern Africa Expedition 16
Date: 2018-02-23
PAINTED DOGS IN THE TULI
Having just crossed into our fourth TFCA, we left Mapungubwe on the South African side and now we're into Botswana's Tuli Block. Researcher Craig Jackson takes us to one of the finest sightings of the critically endangered African Wild Dog we've ever had.
Craig tells us that the reintroduction of African Wild Dogs into the Northern Tuli Game Reserve at the heart of this TFCA is a great success, largely due to the enormous area they are able to roam.
"Often, reintroducing predators can be quite difficult. Our biggest challenge was to make them feel resident on the reserve and set up a territory," he says.
"So far, things are looking good. The pack has settled well and just had their second litter of pups." Craig goes on to explain his fascinating work in 'bio-boundaries' - using scent markings from another African Wild Dog pack to create the illusion of a territorial line, to ensure the 'Tuli pack' doesn't roam out of its area.
Conservationists estimate the total African Wild Dog population left in Africa is between 3,500 and 5,000 animals - even that's a wide-ranging figure. That is why Trans frontier Conservation Areas are so important for endangered species; they certainly bring a little bit of hope for the future.
The Tuli region is located along a fault line in the Earth's crust and one of the highlights of visiting this remarkable part of Africa are its incredible rock formations.
Deep, striking red and orange sandstone, granites and dolerites overlay metamorphic, strangely folded rocks, which create huge otherworldly shapes and dramatic landscapes. Along with its giant baobabs and other trees, it is no wonder the Tuli is known as 'the land of giants'.
We climb the rugged Mmagwa Hill to a lone baobab inscribed with Cecil John Rhodes' initials. He once stood here, envisioning his dream of a railway from Cape Town to Cairo.
An endless sunset view reveals a herd of wildebeest walking across the plains, whilst in the rocks around us dart small elephant shrews.
The moon is up by the time we add a sipful of water to the calabash, this time from a croc-infested pool at a place known as Solomon's Wall on the Motloutse River. Under the spreading branches of a 30-metre-high Mashatu (Nyala berry tree) is a traditional lekgotla that will be our home for the night.