Christmas Trees in the Kalahari KTP May 2012*

[GavinW]

Thanks everyone

Day 8: Nossob to Dikbaardskolk and back!

This was the morning Moose was heading back to Twee Rivieren.

Anna met us early at the hide so that we could share a few more minutes with her before she left, and was persuaded by both WillieW and myself, that half a tank of diesel would get her back to TR. (She was really very nervous about it, but had to get back ASAP, so didn’t have time to wait for the petrol tanks to open)

She left just a bit before 7.30 promising not to chase all the animals away whilst she passed. :D

WillieW and Chris and Kelly all went north, whilst we set off south yet again.

Creatures of habit I suppose!!

This morning Marie’s was quiet, but then what is quiet. She delivered in a different way this morning


These stunning Kudu (I remember a previous trip when all we saw on Maries were some Kudu)





These falcons






And a PCG having breakfast (With no Honey badger in tow)







The trip down to Dikbaardskolk provided us with a sighting of two Rooi Hartebeest having a bit of a power struggle. (Sorry a proof pic only!)



Whilst at Dikbaardskolk itself we saw these crimson breasted shrikes






A starling



And a Hamerkop (A new tick for both of us)






Who took off as we were about to take his photo!




We had an uneventful trip back to camp, only to find a message from Chris and Kelly written in the sand at our campsite….. “Cheetah kill 2kms north of camp!”

[GavinW]

Sorry about the delay in this next post..., hectic weekend

Day 8: cont.. our afternoon up north!



Having heard about the cheetah kill just north of camp, we soon found out that the cheetah had long since disappeared, leaving the carcass to some vultures.

After a short break in camp, we decided to go and have a look and then continue up north for the evening.

We soon came upon the kill, which was basically history





Our decision to go up to Kwang soon proved to be a really good decision.

Soon after leaving the kill we came upon a friend of ours,Willie on his way back to camp, who had gone north that morning, had also missed the cheetah kill, but told us of a small pride of lions which were sleeping near the Kwang waterhole, as well as about a mating couple about a kilometer further on.

We carried on past Kwang and eventually found the couple..






We spent a fair amount of time watching the two lovers sleep, all the time on our own, due probably to the fact that everyone else was watching some lions sleeping under a tree at Kwang.







Yawn!!

Debs started getting a bit bored so got a little creative with her photos




No flies on me!! -O


This was the same couple Willie had seen earlier. the male eventually sat up. (he had a porcupine quill stuck in his chest, and was a bit uncomfortable)



After a while, time was running out, and we still wanted to see what was going on a Kwang, so we left them to their own devices.

[GavinW]

The Kwang Quarrel

We got to Kwang just in time. As we had suspected, whole “herd” of cars had been watching the lions sleeping at Kwang. -O

Well, just before we arrived, they woke up and after having a sip of water, proceeded to walk past all the cars in the “car park” and walk straight up to us as we arrived.


God is good…all the time!!



The lions walked up towards the road, and the one male, obviously had his eye on one of the lionesses in the group.

She obviously had other ideas!

Let the pictures tell the story!!











OMW What just happened?






(I’m sorry, but that was a bit of an overkill, but you must admit it was worth it!!)

TBC……

[GavinW]

Thanks everyone for your replies
A new page , so I can carry on

Lions at Kwang.... continued

The lioness carried on up towards our vehicle and sat down on the side of the road next to us.

A second lioness, sidled up to Mr Handsome and offered herself as a stand in

Hello handsome!



Want some fun?




Wink!



However the man had eyes only for the first lady of the pride, and ignored her!

All the time this was happening next to our car, we were being watched by Chris and Kelly, and everyone else at Kwang



Debbie does seem to be a little concerned in this pic! (Note the lioness right next to the car!)


(Chris's pic)

We eventually moved on to allow others a chance as well to get close to the pride, and set off back to camp.
We got back just before gate closing time, checked in and went and had a really pleasant time with Willie and his wife over some evening sundowners..

[GavinW]

Day 9: A day for the birds, (Well initially anyway)

Our day started with the sound of lions roaring early in the morning, which resulted in us being up and about a bit earlier than usual, and we were soon at the birdhide to see if we could spot our noisy neighbours. We were unsuccessful, but were told of a male heading north, which had been seen a bit earlier.

This, and after the previous day’s action at Kwang, it was not surprising that there was a pretty long queue of cars at the gate just before gate opening time. All going north!

We decided at the last minute to head south around Maries so as to avoid the crowds, and experienced this amazing sunrise and moon set as we set out.






Marie’s was really quiet this morning, with only this vulture and Pale Chanting Goshawk posing for us.





We then turned around and took a drive up to Cubitjie Quap, where we came upon these sandgrouse.




It seemed as if everyone was having similar luck this morning so we returned to camp for a break.

That afternoon we set off south again as far as Kaspersdraai, where we had heard of cheetah and lion being spotted earlier on in the day.

These also proved to be elusive, and besides my losing my front number plate whilst doing one of my special 10 point Kgalagadi turns the drive was pretty uneventful.

These birds brightened up the drive home that afternoon.





All in all the day which though quiet had been really pleasant, but as we all know by now, you never know what the Kgalagadi has in store for you, and this day was far from over.

[GavinW]

Smoked salmon and Pomgraz

Flashback: May 2010 Twee Rivieren;

Post subject: Re: Prides of grass, hyenas, (and other animals) KTP May 2011

Day 16: 15 May 2011 Kieliekrankie to Twee Rivieren cont


We went and relaxed a bit at the chalet, unpacked and downloaded photos, before heading off on an evening drive up to Leeudril and back. Hoping to spot that elusive leopard, which we were sure, did not exist!!

We ended the day off sharing a delicious meal with Bill and Gigi, who were on their way back to Cape Town the next morning. Bill even organised some smoked salmon as a starter!! After two weeks in the park that was impressive!!!

After our 2011 trip we were instructed by Bill and Gigi that even though they were not able to join us, we were to continue the “smoked salmon” tradition in the park this year. Bill and Chris had met and connected in Nossob searching for barn owls in flight, so we thought who better to share the tradition with but with Chris and Kelly.



Added to the above, Kelly managed to pull out a bottle of Pomgraz from somewhere in their trailer



Chris’s parents Den and Don also joined us as we enjoyed our feast!!


Talia also enjoyed a taste of Norway!!



And Ron and Annette some new friends we had made this year also popped in to say farewell to Chris and his family




Sundowners done and dusted, we had arranged a final night drive with Chris and Kelly as they were heading off home the next day and we were off to Polentswa.

[GavinW]

A night drive to remember

There are times when you know that you are really blessed, when you have the opportunity to experience nature at it’s best, in our most favourite place on the planet along with good friends.

Tonight was one of those moments.

Champagned and salmoned up, Debbie, Chris, Kelly, Den and I joined Melissa on the night drive that evening leaving Don to stoke up .the fire and to babysit.

Unbeknown to us, Melissa had seen two lions just outside camp on the sunset drive heading off along one of the “no entry” roads nearby.

She decided to take that road to see if we could spot them.

Well about 500m into the detour, Debs shouted… There is a lion on the left !!( no , no two lions on the left!!)



This is what she saw!!



A very full big daddy



And a very mean looking lady,



Who was still a bit snackish!





(Not quite smoked salmon, but she didn't seem to mind!)



After a while Melissa decided it was time to move on, so we did.

As we went around Maries, we saw this stunning owl



And another acting as a road block!



These bat eared foxes were out looking for supper just before we got back to camp.






Once back at the tent, we heard this big commotion coming from the riverbed near the hide.
We rushed there to see two brown hyenas having a quarrel.. Too far away for pics, but a nice sighting to end off Nossob (part one) of our trip

Tomorrow: Polentswa

[nan]

the Owls are magnificent

[GavinW]

Day 10: Ok not quite Polentswa yet, but we are getting there!


Today was the day we were going to Polentswa for the first time.

With Polentswa being only 60km north of Nossob, we decided to go on a morning game drive (South again!!) before returning to camp to pack up before heading up north.



Nossob sunrise!

It was really frustrating passing the road leading to where we had taken the detour the previous evening and not being able to see or to go and see what had happened at the site of the kill since we were last there.


The news of the kill had spread pretty quickly, so we were not the only frustrated tourists in the park that morning. (I believe that night’s night drive was a sell out!!)



Soon after entering Maries se Draai, we spotted two cheetah(really far off so these are proof pics only).



They seemed to be on the lookout for breakfast and were climbing into the trees to get a better vantage point!





They were obviously hungry and looking for a meal, but remained just too far away for decent pictures. (given our camera equipment)

Eventually they disappeared from view and we carried on on our merry way.

At Maries we came across this herd of Gemsbok, who did a bit of "pronking" for us.






We then returned to Nossob to do the “break down camp thing”

Before we could do that Ron and Annette kindly asked us over for some coffee and delicious carrot cake. Whilst we were enjoying the quietness of a Nossob morning in camp,with most of the tourists out on game drives, we were able to observe all the local birds coming in for a drink



As well as the resident yellow mongoose checking out his surrounds.



We then broke down our campsite and set sail for Polentswa.

[GavinW]

Polentswa


We had an enjoyable trip up to Polentswa, and spotted these pygmy falcons along the way.



A short stop at the Polentswa waterhole before heading off to set up camp, produced sightings of this juvenile bateleur eagle,







And of this elegant white stork.







We got to the Polentswa campsite at about 3 30, to find that we were the only people there, and wondered if the other campsites were going to be empty that evening.

They were, and we had our first night at Polentswa all to ourselves!

Scary, but AMAZING!!!!

Here are a few pics of the evening at the Polentswa Palace.




Sunset!!





Now I need a new page for the next days events!!