The Drama of Wild Coast Dogs

The Wild Coast dogs deserve their own post because they were quite friendly but also quite a nuisance to have around if they get too wild… Let me explain.

As you hike along the Wild Coast you’ll inevitably come across many dogs. It’ll be hard to avoid them, in fact. Hikers are eager to pet them and they can be companions on your journey from village to village. However, I thought I’d share some interesting things I learned about the dogs of the Wild Coast during our hiking trip.

I preface this post by noting that I am not a dog person and am generally afraid of dogs. I wasn’t as amused personally with them…

This dog was following another couple and then joined us eventually… He stayed with us from Wild Lubanzi to the river at Hole in the Wall without any encouragement.

Not all dogs are wild dogs

Many people don’t put collars on their dogs and let them roam freely. At the same time, many of these same dogs like to follow hikers between villages. However, they get lost or stuck (because of the rivers) in other villages. Their humans get worried and spend time calling the different hostels along the coast trying to find their dogs.

Additionally, a lodge may charge you extra for the dog’s food and water if you bring it into the property. Many of these lodges have their own animals too and so their own dogs and cats will fight with these newcomers unnecessarily.

If you do want to rescue a dog, you should do a lot of leg work in making sure that it actually doesn’t belong to anyone. There is an interesting story you’ll hear about the wine brand Lubanzi and a dog if you stay at the Wild Lubanzi.

Dogs and livestock: not a good combo

I urge you not to be friendly with the dogs so that they follow you. If someone is available to help hold the dog back or distract them as you continue hiking, that would be best.

If the dog (or dogs) that are clearly following you attacks one of the many goats, sheep, or cows along the hiking trails, you will be held financially responsible.

The cost of a goat is around R1200 to R3000. A cow is around R13,000.

We had this experience happen to us as we were hiking between Hole in the Wall and Coffee Bay. After our lunch at Hole in the Wall, we (along with the other couple we were hiking with) somehow collected a pack of five dogs through no effort of our own.

Let me remind you that I don’t even like dogs; I am a cat person.

As we were hiking over one side of a mountain, the dogs decided to gang up on a small goat. The squeals were terrible. The dogs would not leave the goat alone until Wilhelm and the other couple ran ahead. Even though we tried to move on (and actually wanted the dogs to follow us away this time), they were extremely aggressive. At least 2 dogs bit the goat.

The other couple we are hiking with helped carry the goat, because it became paralyzed with fear, to a nearby house. They explained that these dogs were not ours and we don’t know what to do about the goat. It seemed fine, just shaken up as the bit wounds weren’t deep. The woman at the house agreed to keep the goat.

And so we continued on our hike. A couple of minutes later as we join the main road, a man came running up behind us asking us about the goat and how it was attacked. The couple explained that these were not our dogs and we do not know how to get rid of the. The man explained that the owner of the goat (who did not speak English) was very upset about this. News travels fast in the villages! It had been just a couple of minutes.

Things got a little dramatic from here. The goat owner wanted to have all the dogs shot because of the injury to his goat. He asked us to help him catch the dogs. Our hiking buddies said we would not assist in capturing the dogs and that they weren’t our responsibility.

Remember though, according to the villagers though, you will be responsible since you brought the dogs here…

There wasn’t really a conclusion to this discussion because the other couple was returning through this village the following day. They agreed to exchange numbers to follow up. Perhaps being South African helped the situation. I think things could have gone worse if it was just me and Wilhelm.

As we left, the goat owner used rocks to discourage the dogs from following us. The hope was for the owner to call to ask where these dogs were, and then he could be accountable for the goat’s injury.

The bottom line

Dogs attacking livestock can be common. I would advise against collecting dogs on your hiking journey along the Wild Coast. In our case, it seemed unavoidable because we tried to shoo the dogs away, but they continue to hike with us for several kilometers. We didn’t know what issues it would cause.

As we hiked, one hiking guide even warned us just before our goat drama that the dogs will also run the animals off the cliffs. He suggested getting rid of them as well. Again, we don’t know how we would have.

Also, don’t take dogs away from an area because you think you’re gonna give them a better life. Just leave the dogs be.