Painted Dog Travel

05/18/2026

A coalition of big cats occurs when adult males join forces to survive. Until a female gives them a reason to squabble, they are safer together, stronger together, and share larger meals when they work together. Often, it's observed when brothers stay together, but they aren't always related. This coalition of four male cheetahs were seen this year on the expansive grass plains in the Dinare concession. The ecosystem variation and abundance of plains game means it's possible for cheetahs to find purchase even when competition from lions, leopards, hyenas, and wild dogs remain an endless challenge.

05/15/2026

Did you know that female raptors are larger than males by anywhere from 20-50%? This female martial eagle is noticeably larger than her mate as she swoops in to collect the Egyptian goose he has claimed for her. In doing so, he demonstrates his suitability for reproduction. On safari in Africa, you don’t have to be a birder to appreciate the incredible bird life, but you may return home with a new affliction. This marvelous sighting took place in the Okavango Delta, and while it could take a lifetime of safaris to witness this specific event, it also reveals the many irreplaceable and unexpected wildlife stories awaiting on safari, especially when designed for an immersive pace and strategic location rather than ticking the boxes.

05/01/2026

Visiting Tikal at sunrise isn’t about watching the sun. It’s about being present for the jungle’s awakening. With constellations overhead, we approach Temple Four in the darkness. The haunting chorus of howler monkeys grows louder as pre dawn colors the canopy. The symphony builds with the songs of the red-crowned ant tanager, slaty-tailed trogon, melodious blackbird, flycatchers, woodcreepers, humming birds, and toucans. The crowd builds, and yet, silent reverence is preserved in unspoken understanding until the sun shines bright and the spell is broken.

03/07/2026

03/06/2026

The 14 hour flight from Newark to Johannesburg was the perfect setting to binge the series which takes place over a five year period in the Nsefu sector of Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park. I had the privilege of seeing some of these characters in real life during my stay at Tena Tena Camp back in 2023, including Flint, the remarkable and resilient Wild Dog who survived a poachers snare and returned to his mother’s pack. The pack not only tolerated him, but cared for him in revealing displays of compassion. The opportunity to follow the lives of these animals and the conservation work that photographic safari tourism supports, through all of the triumphs and tragedies, is an emotional roller coaster. Now off to Botswana’s to discover what new wildlife dramas await!

08/26/2025

The African Wild Dog, also known as Painted Dog or Painted Wolf, are highly social, charismatic, and elusive. With a massive traversing area that puts them in the crosshairs of human-wildlife conflict, they are an endangered species that requires good planning and a generous sprinkle of good luck to encounter on safari. How do you see African wild dogs on safari? Here are a few tips to help with the planning:
Tip #1: Combine Areas - Generally, safaris need to be booked a year in advance to have your choice of camps, concessions, and dates. A lot can change in a year, including if a pack is disrupted by competing predators. Hedge your bets by combining areas with strong populations and sightings reports. We can help narrow the selection.
Tip #2: Travel During the Denning Season - This isn't a must, but their range is shortened and whereabouts more predictable this time of year.
Tip #3: Prepare for Adorable and Gross - Dogs are highly social, cuddly, and playful. Unlike the elegant dispatch of a big cat, however, a dog pack attack on its prey is gruesome and not an enviable way to go.
Tip #4: Pay for Private Guide and Vehicle - Unless you are with a like-minded group of 4 - 6 travelers who will be committed to the long hours, tracking, and skipping other sightings, plan to pay for private guide and vehicle for your priorities to be fulfilled.
Tip #5: Don't Rush It - 2-night stays might get you a dog sighting by the grace of the safari gods, but you'll likely miss out on all of the other wonderful wildlife. Give yourself the time to feel unpressured and present as well as goal-oriented.
The painted dog is our namesake because it represents an immersive and informed travel that contributes to impactful conservation. These elegant apex predators thrive where the ecosystem is intact. We can help you balance your wildlife goals with the budget and travel style you prefer most! All photos were taken by owner of Painted Dog Travel, Darcie Smith on different safaris.

08/13/2025

In honor of World Elephant Day, here are a few of the notable conservation programs across Africa working tirelessly to preserve habitat, fund research, and support communities who coexist with these magnificent ecosystem engineers.

1. Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is the first community-led elephant sanctuary and first to employ female keepers. The Samburu community rehabilitates and releases the elephants back into their northern range while benefiting from their coexistence and preserving their pastoral traditions. 📸Reteti Camp
2. Imvelo Safaris in Zimbabwe manages bore holes in Hwange National Park to keep elephants inside the boundary during the dry months while working alongside the local communities to ensure they benefit from the tourism and coexistence with wildlife.
3. Kamba Africa operates remote camps in the vast forest of the Republic of Congo, working with primate researchers and conservationists to preserve one of the world's last remaining vast, carbon-sequestering forests. 📸Kamba Africa
4. Mara Elephant Project protects elephants and their habitat through research, anti-poaching patrol, and community support. Ivory poaching has dropped by 98% and human-elephant conflict incidents have dropped by 95% as they monitor over 1,200 elephants. Many safari camps in the Mara contribute to this project as part of their bed night flat rate, and travelers can take time out of their safari to visit the headquarters.
5. As some parts of Africa grow rapidly, other parts become the last safe havens for wildlife, adding pressure to the ecosystem and surrounding communities. Elephants Without Borders, based in Botswana, studies the migratory patterns, behavior, and ecology of elephants to lead with data that informs sustainable growth by protecting migration paths across Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

08/07/2025

Join us September 3 at the Salida Steam Plant for the Women’s Adventure Film Tour in support of elevateHER with excellent raffle prizes (gear, art, & experiences) plus libations. Tickets are available from the link in bio!

07/19/2025

Last month, I boarded the MV Beluga accompanied by my husband, mother, 5 and 7-year old nephews, best friend, and soon-to-be friends, for 8 days of exploring the eastern Archipelago. Our guide, Darwin, (yes, that’s his real name) loves the transition months between the rainy and dry seasons for the intermingling that happens with wildlife sightings. June was still early season for the Garua, so our days were mild and mostly sunny, and the water temperatures were pleasant since the Humboldt Current had yet to bring the Antarctic cold to the eastern waters of the archipelago. The arrival of nutrient-rich waters made for excellent sightings of hammerhead sharks and large schools of mobula and golden cow-nosed rays. Española hosts the world’s only waved albatross colony, and we observed several pairs reuniting after a season apart with a courtship dance of clacking beaks, swaying heads, and loud honks. 40 years of cruising in the Galapagos has resulted in carefully crafted itineraries with access to top locations, and we achieved all the wildlife highlights of the eastern archipelago, even snorkeling with hunting Galapagos penguins. Our active ship attracted a relatively younger demographic with enough excursions to wipe even my busy nephews every day, including a daily rotation of land, snorkeling, and kayaking excursions. What sets this ship apart from the many is the crew, some of whom have been working together for over 20 years. The warmth and hospitality were matched by flexibility and fun. The kids were glued to Darwin, who would freedive meters below us, backflip off the pangas, and rattle off a well of naturalist knowledge to make his namesake proud. The crossings were mellow with some rocking that didn’t impact our sleep or comfort. We were fortunate to travel with like-minded adventurers, sharing many laughs and creating new memories. Sharing this adventure with my family was one of the most meaningful experiences of my career. 

07/04/2025

“My world can only be as diverse as my plate,” says Juana, our guide of the Paloquemao Market. Colombia is considered to have the greatest biodiversity on the planet, and the market in Bogota is the intersection of produce from across the country. Juana leads us on a sensory journey featuring traditional Colombian cuisine and aisles of abundance from the coast to the Amazon. Accompanied by Maria Jose, the founder of .food whose mission is to preserve produce diversity, Juana emphasizes the importance of having a mindful relationship with what we eat. Grounded in Colombian culture, she shares teachings of indigenous wisdom, peppered with Marquez-Esque magical realism. As we chew on Coca leaves, she explains the traditional uses of the plant that has caused so much turmoil for the country. The leaves open blood vessels, promoting oxygen and clarity that was traditionally used to prepare decision makers for important meetings to speak with intention. “Oxygenate your mind so only sweet water leaves your mouth,” the indigenous Muisca say.

Displayed on a platter with feral disregard for uniformity sit the fruits we are to taste. We meet the sweet, vibrant distant cousins of the mass-produced fruits of our local grocery chains. Names like sugar mango, tree tomato, and ice cream apple sound deceptively familiar until tasted and your palate goes Kodachrome. We finish with the Colombian favorite, lulo, a tart fruit typically enjoyed as a sweetened juice.

As we pass the co-op stalls, Maria Jose greets the vendors, “Hola, vecino!” She’s spent her entire life in this market, beginning with grocery runs as a child. The tour champions the tireless work ethic and resilience of the small farmers as well as the collective power of small businesses. Eat local, preserve family recipes, eat with diversity: this is what she’s asking of us. To be a mindful consumer in every meeting of the word.