Ahead of the wild dogs, the group of impala burst across the road in desperate flight.
This high-tension moment happened in full view of Danielle Sheedy of Elephant Walk Retreat (www.elephantwalk.africa), who managed to capture all of the action.
She moved her vehicle alongside the pack as they ran in pursuit of their intended prey.
Impala burst forth onto road
The dusty bushveld road meandered into the distance, and all was still until the impalas appeared from out of the thicket, just off the side of the road.
The wild dogs were in hot pursuit of them and they ran with all their might and strength.
Their slender bodies leapt high in the air in a dramatic scene.
Impala are one of Africa’s most common and agile antelopes. Adult males weigh between 50 and 75kg, while females are lighter (around 40 to 50kg).
They stand about 75 to 95cm at the shoulder, with sleek reddish-brown coats and white underbellies that help camouflage them in the savanna. This camouflage doesn’t always hide them from predators, and they are commonly targeted as prey in the bushveld.
These impala showed great speed and agility as they ran. Impalas can actually run up to 80 to 90km/h, which is faster than a wild dog in a straight sprint. It’s this speed and agility which is their greatest defense.
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Impala leap across road in frenzied burst of energy
What makes impala especially hard to catch is their ability to leap up to three metres high and cover as much as 10 metres in a single bound.
These unpredictable leaps, known as ‘stotting’ or ‘pronking,’ confuse predators and demonstrate strength and fitness, often deterring pursuit.
Danielle managed to film some of these amazing leaps of the impala as they fled.
Wild dogs emerge into open road in pursuit of impala
Hunting is never a solitary effort for wild dogs. Their strength lies in their pack structure, which is highly cooperative and social.
Packs can range from 6 to over 20 individuals.
Here, each member worked in near-perfect coordination for the hunt. They communicated constantly through calls and body signals.
The impala functioned as a unit in a synchronised flight, making it difficult for the wild dogs to isolate a single individual.
The wild dogs weren’t fast enough in their pursuit of the impala and they soon got away.
Wild dogs continue to head in direction of impala
The dogs ran alongside the game vehicle with impressive speed as they continued the chase, even after the impala had disappeared from view. , More and more dogs appeared in the open road, showing the sheer size of the pack.
The dogs showed tremendous endurance and strength, coming out in numbers and focused on the impala in the distance.
It is unclear how the moment ended. However, what was evident was the teamwork among both the pack and herd members.
This encounter between the two species showed the best of each animals’ ability to move with speed and precision.