Camping with Petronella ; KTP May 2016

[GavinW]

Camping with Petronella: KTP May 2016

We hadn’t been in the Kgalagadi for about 5 months, but it had been a long 4 years since we had been in the park at our favourite time of the year, May.
Our last May trip is recorded in or report “Christmas Trees in the Kalahari”


Before I start, just to mention, that almost all the photos in this report are taken by Debbie (Wannabe Nerd) with a Panasonic Lumix FZ200 camera. Basicilly a larney muk and druk camera. (Just saying )

Call us spoilt, Yes, Call us addicts, definitely, and before any trip you can call us like little children just before Christmas, and that will certainly apply.

So it was an excited two bunnies who headed off to the park on Friday 6 May.

Our itinerary:
4 nights Rooiputs
4 nights Polentswa
2 nights Nossob
3 nights Mata Mata
3 nights Kieliekrankie
Home

We had decided not to travel straight through from Cape Town, but rather to stop over on the way. This time we decided that Keimos was close enough to enable us to get back to paradise at a reasonable hour.
We got to our overnight accommodation by early evening and enjoyed our first braai and sunset of our holiday.

Our Accommodation:
.
Not too shabby.





Hoping for painted dogs but not really


Our first sunset. ( There will be more )

[GavinW]

May 7: Off to the Kgalagadi

We had intended to have a bit of a lie in before leaving for the park, but we both knew that the chances of that happening were pretty slim. So by 8am we were packed and ready to leave Keimos.

We stopped briefly for petrol in Upington, for biltong at the Kalahari Guesthouse and petrol again at Askam. (We had heard that there would be no unleaded petrol in Twee Rivieren so we wanted to ensure that we had as much with us as possible. We were also carrying an extra 50l in jerry cans as well)

It was just before 1pm when we were able to take the pic that we (and just about everyone else takes) as they arrive at the park.
We were trying our best not to take note of the fully extended flags above reception



We booked in at reception, on both sides of the park, got our wild card renewed, deflated tyres and bought some wood and ice before heading off to our Rooiputs campsite.


The first sighting of note was this Spotted Eagle Owl trying to disappear into a tree



Followed by this magnificent Martial eagle perched in what we always called the Martial tree after having seen the nest last occupied in May 2012






A Tawny eagle stole this half eaten snake from a PCG






All too soon we were at Rooiputs and busy setting up our home for the next 4 nights.

Pitching the tent was quite a challenge, as the wind had picked up sharply which almost resulted in a few divorces, but after a while we were sorted, and decided to take refuge from the wind in the bakkie, and head off on our first game drive of the holiday

[nan]

wow Gavin, I'm ready to follow you

superb Martial Eagle
and nice accomodation before THE Paradise

[Lisbeth]

Here we go again

Beautiful raptors

Setting up a tent with the wind howling must be quite difficult

[okie]

All the way with you here

[Flutterby]

A great start!

[Alf]

I have pitched my tent too

I'm ready

[GavinW]

Thanks everyone, and welcome aboard

We take a break from the wind


As I said, the wind had picked up quite significantly, so we decided that a drive up to Kij Kij and back was a much better plan than being sand blasted back at camp.

True to form, as had been the norm for the day, our first sighting of the drive was a tawny eagle up in a tree.
We would later call this section of road up to Melkvlei “Tawny Alley”





A bit further along the road, this Gemsbok was watching us with interest.
I am always amazed as to how skittish these big guys are.



Just as we got past Kij Kij we came across a few cars keeping an eye on four very flat lions under a tree



They weren’t going anywhere so we carried on to the Melkvlei picnic site before turning around and heading back

The lions still hadn’t really moved so we carried on.

At the natural waterhole just north of Kij Kij , a few cars were stopped ion the rise above the water. We often see cars there as it is a great birding spot. This evening however, the main attraction were these youngsters parking off:



Eventually, with time running out we left Kij Kij and set off back home

We spotted this puff adder on the side of the road just near camp





Back at camp, we experienced our first bush sunset of our trip



Supper that evening was slightly different from the planned steak braai, with us settling rather for left over salad and chops from the previous evening with lots of wine whilst taking refuge from the wind in our tent.

[Lisbeth]

Lovely pale tawny

You sure are organized and Debbie looks very comfortable

[nan]

love the Tawny, the Puffie and your home