Page 3 of 3
Re: Etosha - There are no elephants in Etosha!
Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 3:28 pm
by Moggiedog
Re: Etosha - There are no elephants in Etosha!
Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 3:29 pm
by Moggiedog
Re: Etosha - There are no elephants in Etosha!
Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 3:29 pm
by Moggiedog
Thanks for reading and your comments - much appreciated.
it was time to leave our temporary home and head for our next stop. it was hard to believe how fast time had passed. I am just sorry there is no way to slow time down when things are good and speeding it up in the bad times.
On our way out of camp a small critter was crossing the road. We blocked the road until he was out of harms way. He/she was in no hurry but fortunately the one and only other car had no problem with waiting until safety had been reached.
(i'm glad it's just in the pic his tail is gone)
We were in no hurry to get to Namutoni as it was a beautiful day - not too hot. The scenery was beautiful and game was plentiful. perhaps not the huge dramatic sightings but none the less well worth taking our time. Small creatures had decided the grass was greener on the other side and were braving the roaring monstrosities on the road.
Unfortunately not all of the animals were fat and healthy. This sad little jackal was fighting hard for survival. We noticed a lot of the animals seemed to be infested with mange.
The black faced impala were becoming more numerous and some smaller ones were very intrigued with the boxes that moved along the roads. They had no fear of the vehicles and watched us as much as we watched them.
the kudu on the other hand - didn't even bother to look in our direction. they were far to interested in the lush green leaves that were on offer.
Still no sign of elephant. no droppings - no nothing. There are no elephant in Etosha!
Re: Etosha - There are no elephants in Etosha!
Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 3:30 pm
by Moggiedog
After checking in we took a walk around the camp. I must be very honest - way too smart and definitely not a place to stay unless you're into - dare I say it - hotel type accommodation. No self catering at all - unless you camping. No place to light a fire. The rooms are very quiet and not much sound from th veld can be heard.
We stopped for a cold drink and had the pleasure of meeting Bloody Sunday - the camp manager. What a wonderful person. He treated us like long lost family and he told the staff to ensure that his friends from South Africa were given nothing but the best. A sense of humor second to none. I was sorry to see he go as I could have spent a lot longer in his company.
It had got extremely hot so we lazed around camp until late after noon when we went out for a drive. It was a dry run as far as animals were concerned but plenty of birds to be seen.
We were given a stern lecture for disturbing the peace.
We then interrupted a cleaning session - which was not well received
Two vultures were squabbling over their evening meal - even though there was more than enough for both
A more pleasing sight was this brightly colored roller than was enjoying the setting sun
After dark I took a walk to the waterhole - but there was nothing to be seen. Just the stars and the moon. Headed back to the room to get some shut eye. A lot of driving still to be done and plenty still to be seen.
Re: Etosha - There are no elephants in Etosha!
Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 3:31 pm
by Moggiedog
Re: Etosha - There are no elephants in Etosha!
Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 3:31 pm
by Moggiedog
Re: Etosha - There are no elephants in Etosha!
Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 3:31 pm
by Moggiedog
Thanks for staying with me. Etosha is a wonderful place to visit - pictures do not do it justice!!
The next day can only be described as "the Killing Fields'. Whichever way we looked their were vultures and jackal on a kill. The lion had had a feeding frenzy.
Going on a drive
The same kill about an hour later
Not very far away was another gathering of the clans. the two kills were in sight of each other
A tad further down the road we noticed some gnu behaving in a strange manner. I have got to give these animals credit. the big daddy grouped his followers together and advanced towards the threat his family was facing - perhaps he was just stupid. lucky for him the lion were so fat and well fed they gave a very half hearted movement towards the wildebeest , changed direction and disappeared into the bushes.
Unfortunately one little calf got separated. It was running around crying and "asking' for help. Fortunately he was pointed in the right direction and was soon bounding off to join his family.
Re: Etosha - There are no elephants in Etosha!
Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 3:32 pm
by Moggiedog
Re: Etosha - There are no elephants in Etosha!
Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 3:32 pm
by Moggiedog
The following days passed in much the same manner. the only difference was at the water hole. the giraffe, the rhino, the zebra and all the other animals came down to drink - but not a single animal drank. We could not figure out what was happening. No signs of stress - no signs of being hunted and yet they all walked to the edge of the water and left without dropping their heads - strange.
Perhaps this fella has the answer
or maybe he does
Time to say goodbye and head for home. A trip that I am certainly hoping to repeat as soon as I have found a convenient bank to rob.
A rainbow greeted us on arrival and in the distance a rainbow said farewell.
Once again a big tree was our stop for lunch
Then we were greeted by the following at our arrival at Ngepi
Oh well - thats is what happens when the rivers come down in flood and you see hippo in the river next to the highway that used to be dry land.
There are no elephant in Etosha - yes we did see droppings on our way out - fresh - but no Elephant to be seen - BUt Etosha has
dimara dik dik. Giraffe that graze - I could not believe my eyes - we stopped and watched as he snapped his fron legs together and came up smartly munching on grass. this process with repeated over and over again. Adaptation of nature is incredible!
and another creature that is very strange and different from the norm -
Re: Etosha - There are no elephants in Etosha!
Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 3:33 pm
by Moggiedog
Thank you all for your nice comments and staying with me to the end. Pumbaa - I was so glad we saw the dik diks. We hadn't seen any and I was beginning to think we would't see them. On our last day we saw about ten of these beautiful little creatures. The black Zebra is fascinating. I believe it is a mutant gene and that they are only found in Etosha. (Not sure if this is true or not)
This link may be of interest
http://www.republikein.com.na/politiek- ... 113726.php