A Hippo, 4 Waterbuck and a pair of Wild Dog

We were out for only 10 minutes and saw a small group of Waterbuck. An adult female with three juveniles were standing in the water looking desperately nervous. Their body posture was a dead giveaway. They were not standing there for no reason.

Two Wild Dogs stood about 60 meters away, watching and patiently waiting.

It was very apparent that the Wild Dogs have already tried to hunt these buck down and the water was their only refuge from a carnivore with possibly the most impressive endurance in the African bush.

Just as cameras started snapping, one of the young and inexperienced waterbuck bolted out running straight north. In a grey flash with splashing water and branches breaking, the other 2 juveniles followed. Their inexperience was obvious. Their self-preservation instincts took the better of them and they foolishly left the safety of the waterhole.

The adult female Waterbuck reluctantly followed them like a baby sitter taking full responsibility for these youngsters.


They were running fast, very very fast.

One Wild Dog got up and playfully nodded to his hunting partner that the chase was so on. The two hungry hunting Wild Dogs accepted the challenge.

They were in pursuit! Also running fast, very very fast.

My cruiser was hopelessly left behind in puffs of dust.

I pursued in hope to witness what could happen. About 400 meters away I saw the adult female Waterbuck catch up with the juveniles and the Wild Dogs were already onto them snapping at their flanks.

The experienced adult Waterbuck took the lead and unbelievably the young bucks turned and followed without question. The Wild Dogs were still snapping at their hides. The last juvenile got sharply nipped and this was like a spur in a horses flank.  It buried its heels deep into hard ground and ran for its life.

They were in full gallop heading straight back towards us. We just made it back in time to see the Waterbuck dive back into the waterhole. A high dive champion would have watched in awe as they dived about eight meters to hit the middle of the hole, right on top of a big Hippopotamus!

The Hippo then pushed them out of his waterhole right onto the bank and the Wild Dogs were right there, waiting. The young Waterbuck were trembling, nervously looking straight at the 2 ton Hippo. The Wild Dog then tried to flush the adult Waterbuck out of the water and it was warned with two sharp thumping hooves stomping the water.

The territorial Hippo with his head low came streaming towards the buck but they just stood and watched. Upset Hippo on one-side. Hungry Wild Dogs on the other.

A minute passed. The Hippo stopped advancing however still staring. The Wild Dogs synchronized their sudden departure.

The Hippo just stared. The Waterbuck just stood there. The Wild Dogs just disappeared. We just sat there.

A little while later we found these Wild Dogs hunting on the airstrip, just trotting along as if nothing happened.

What an experience!


Fritz Breytenbach