Social distancing in the Kgalagadi Oct/Nov 2020

[GavinW]

Wednesday 11 November 2020

We wanted to get down to the cape fox den as early as possible, so we were the first car out of the gate on Wednesday morning. Not that it helped, as it didn’t take long for the rest of Mata Mata to catch up with us and pass us by.

I tend to travel at about 30km per hour so as to not to miss any sightings.


The sunrise at Sitsas was spectacular, and was made even more interesting with a pair of secretary birds silhouetted in the golden sunshine

[GavinW]

By the time we got to the Cape Fox den on the far side of the 14th borehole loop, there was a minor traffic jam at the site, with everyone trying to get a glimpse of the action.

Debbie doesn’t do traffic, so we carried on hoping to see the owl chicks a bit further down the road once again.


They weren’t home, and then FOMA set in
I turned around and returned as fast as I could to the cape foxes, fearful that by now they would have gone to sleep.

While we were driving back Debbie thought she could hear a strange noise from the tyres of the bakkie, but as the road had just been graded, she assumed that it was just the sound of the road


We got there to a quiet den, but we decided to wait and see what would happen.
We were not disappointed, as they all came out to play once again, and moved towards us.

[Lisbeth]

Mom looks a bit worn out

[GavinW]

[GavinW]

The cubs were up to all sorts of nonsense including a game of catch

Eventually, they disappeared down underground so we moved off.

[GavinW]

Not far though as our left rear wheel was as flat as a pancake.


I got out the car and started preparing to get the wheel changed when the grader returned on it’s way back after grading up north.

I probably looked like some old helpless man with a car problem
(Which was a pretty accurate summation of things) so the kind SANParks gentlemen, stopped and offered their assistance.


My car jack could not fit under the vehicle due to the sand and the flat tyre so the SANParlks guys made a plan..
They jacked the bakkie up with the grader blade and changed the tyre for me.

Those guys rock!!!

[harrys]

I just love those Cape foxes

[RogerFraser]

Those Cape foxes are super cute

So happy to hear that the Sanparks guys stopped to help .

[Lisbeth]

Those cubs are just too cute for words

You were lucky to get some help

[GavinW]

It was still only 8.30 or so, so instead of going back to Mata Mata to fix the puncture, we decided to take a chance without a spare wheel and to carry on down south a fit further.


The swallow tailed bee- eaters were active at their nest near Kamqua, so we spent a bit of time watching them come and go