Last reviewed: 25 October 2026 against Painted Dog Conservation, the IUCN Red List assessment for the African wild dog, ZimParks, the Gonarezhou Conservation Trust and the Save Valley Conservancy. Packs move and den sites change every year. Ask your lodge or guide what has been seen recently.
Painted dogs at a glance
About painted dogs
Painted dogs live in packs, and each dog’s coat of black, tan and white patches is unique. Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) says packs range from two to more than 30 dogs, and that about six is the minimum for a pack to hunt and breed successfully. Only the dominant (alpha) female normally breeds, with a litter of usually 10 to 11 pups after a pregnancy of 69 to 72 days. They need a lot of space. PDC says a pack’s home range can cover up to 750 km², and dogs can travel 30 km in a day. They eat mainly small to medium antelope such as impala, kudu and duiker. The IUCN assessment notes that painted dogs reach their highest densities in thicker bush, and names Mana Pools as one example.Where to see painted dogs
Hwange
PDC, which is based on the edge of the park, says Hwange holds upwards of 160 dogs. Packs range widely, so ask your lodge or guide where packs have been seen recently.Mana Pools
ZimParks lists painted dogs among Mana Pools’ key species, and PDC monitors packs here as well as in Hwange. Mana Pools is also one of the few parks where you can look for them on foot with a licensed guide. The park is largely closed in the main rains, roughly mid-November or December to March, so plan for the dry season. Mana Pools has strict rules for viewers, including keeping your distance from dens. See our Mana Pools guide before you go.Gonarezhou
Gonarezhou’s painted dogs are a recovery story. The Gonarezhou Conservation Trust says rabies nearly wiped them out in 2006. Its predator project counted about 30 to 40 adults and yearlings in 2009, and 107 adults and yearlings in 11 packs by 2017. The dogs here roam widely and sometimes leave the park, so sightings are a matter of luck.The denning season
Painted dogs den once a year, in the cool dry season. PDC says they breed at the coldest time of year, usually around May or June in Zimbabwe. The Save Valley Conservancy says its packs den from May to July. Timing varies by pack and by year: PDC has recorded a Mana Pools litter born in mid-September. While the pups are small, the pack returns to the den every day and the hunters bring food back for the mother and pups. That makes the pack much easier to find than at other times of year.Tips for seeing painted dogs
- Go early and late. The Gonarezhou Conservation Trust says dogs are most active in the morning and evening, and rest in shade through the heat of the day.
- Ask about recent sightings. Your lodge or guide will know where packs have been seen and whether a den is active.
- Allow time. Packs cover huge distances, so plan a few nights in one area rather than a quick visit.
- Photograph both sides. Researchers identify dogs by their coat patterns. The Gonarezhou Conservation Trust asks visitors to take side-on photos of as many pack members as possible, from both sides, and send them to its predator project.
- Report snared dogs to your guide or the park straight away.
Visiting Painted Dog Conservation
Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) is a Zimbabwean conservation organisation based near Dete, on the edge of Hwange National Park. It runs anti-poaching patrols, a rehabilitation facility for injured and orphaned dogs, and conservation education, including the Wilton Nsimango Children’s Bush Camp for local learners.- Where: PDC’s centre is on the Hwange Main Camp road, about 16 km by road from Main Camp (OpenStreetMap). Its postal address is PO Box 72, Dete.
- Opening hours: PDC says its visitor centre is open seven days a week, 8am to 5pm.
- What you’ll see: the visitor centre, and dogs at the rehabilitation facility if there are any being cared for at the time.
- Game drives: PDC doesn’t run them. It is a conservation organisation, not a tour operator.
- Fees: PDC doesn’t publish an entry fee on its website. Donations and gift-shop purchases support its work.
- Contact: info@painteddog.org, +263 772 162 852.
Threats
- Snares. Wire snares set for other animals catch and kill painted dogs. PDC’s anti-poaching teams remove snares, and the Gonarezhou project tries to find and free snared dogs.
- Disease. Rabies and other diseases spread from domestic dogs in neighbouring communities.
- Roads. PDC says road collisions remain a threat, and works to keep denning pups safe from highway traffic near Hwange.
- Space. Packs need huge home ranges, so they often leave protected areas and come into conflict with people.
Related guides
Big Five in Zimbabwe
Where and when to see lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.
Best time for a safari
Park by park and month by month.
Hwange National Park
Zimbabwe’s largest park and home of Painted Dog Conservation.
Walking and canoe safaris
How to look for dogs on foot in Mana Pools.
Sources
- Painted Dog Conservation — Home, accessed 25 October 2026
- Painted Dog Conservation — FAQ, accessed 25 October 2026
- Painted Dog Conservation — About painted dogs, accessed 25 October 2026
- Painted Dog Conservation — Who we are, accessed 25 October 2026
- Painted Dog Conservation — Notes from the field: the new pups of Mpindothela and the “no pups” of Nyamepi, accessed 25 October 2026
- IUCN Red List — Lycaon pictus, African wild dog (Woodroffe & Sillero-Zubiri, 2020, amended version of 2012 assessment), accessed 25 October 2026
- Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) — Mana Pools National Park, accessed 25 October 2026
- Gonarezhou Conservation Trust — African wild dogs in Gonarezhou National Park (23 July 2018), accessed 25 October 2026
- Save Valley Conservancy — Home, accessed 25 October 2026
- OpenStreetMap — approximate road distance from Painted Dog Conservation to Hwange Main Camp, accessed 25 October 2026