Martial reflections
The only sighting we had on the way down to Rooiputs after leaving the traffic cop behind was quite wonderful.
The roads, after all the rain had provided a whole lot of puddles in the road.
Fun for me as I added to the designer mud on my bakkie,
but even more fun for the birds, who suddenly had really nice fresh water bird baths available all over the place.
We were lucky enough to come across this Martial having a ball in a bird bath in the road..
And off it went
Kalahari Reflections March 2014*
- GavinW
- Posts: 1188
- Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 4:29 pm
- Country: South Africa
- Location: Cape Town
- Contact:
Re: Kalahari Reflections March 2014
We carried on to Twee Rivieren, where we did all the admin/logistical type stuff we needed to do before heading off to Rooipiuts
There we set up camp in campsite no 5
had a chilled evening braai and bed.
Wondering what the last segment of our trip would bring
There we set up camp in campsite no 5
had a chilled evening braai and bed.
Wondering what the last segment of our trip would bring
Wishing I was in the KTP
- GavinW
- Posts: 1188
- Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 4:29 pm
- Country: South Africa
- Location: Cape Town
- Contact:
Re: Kalahari Reflections March 2014
March 17: Kalahari Reflections
Today was going to be one of those days which keep you coming back to the Kgaladadi.
First up the sunrise….
We decided to head north up to Kij Kij in the hope of seeing the lion pride that had been seen around there recently
They obviously had different ideas. Zip , Nadda, not even a bokkie did we see till after Kij Kij.
As we were heading north up towards Melkvlei, I had a hair in my nose that was really irritating me, so I asked Debs to pull it out ………………. :redface: :redface: :redface:
Well I need to do that more often as whilst she was helping me out I suddenly saw something in the middle of the road... (but then I may get to have a really big swollen nose, so that is not such a good idea!!)
What I saw initially between the tears turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip:
I am sorry, you are about to get a photo overload!
A few of my photos as well, including the two BBj's who were hanging around as well:
This was by far the best sighting of a brown hyeana we had ever had. And the best was that we had it all to ourselves for over 20 minutes
Pure heaven
It eventually stopped drinking and went to claim the no entry sign by marking it as it's own
before disappearing over the dune
Today was going to be one of those days which keep you coming back to the Kgaladadi.
First up the sunrise….
We decided to head north up to Kij Kij in the hope of seeing the lion pride that had been seen around there recently
They obviously had different ideas. Zip , Nadda, not even a bokkie did we see till after Kij Kij.
As we were heading north up towards Melkvlei, I had a hair in my nose that was really irritating me, so I asked Debs to pull it out ………………. :redface: :redface: :redface:
Well I need to do that more often as whilst she was helping me out I suddenly saw something in the middle of the road... (but then I may get to have a really big swollen nose, so that is not such a good idea!!)
What I saw initially between the tears turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip:
I am sorry, you are about to get a photo overload!
A few of my photos as well, including the two BBj's who were hanging around as well:
This was by far the best sighting of a brown hyeana we had ever had. And the best was that we had it all to ourselves for over 20 minutes
Pure heaven
It eventually stopped drinking and went to claim the no entry sign by marking it as it's own
before disappearing over the dune
Wishing I was in the KTP
- GavinW
- Posts: 1188
- Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 4:29 pm
- Country: South Africa
- Location: Cape Town
- Contact:
Re: Kalahari Reflections March 2014
Thanks nan and Tina
We eventually carried on to a very soggy Melkvlei!
We eventually carried on to a very soggy Melkvlei!
Wishing I was in the KTP
- GavinW
- Posts: 1188
- Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 4:29 pm
- Country: South Africa
- Location: Cape Town
- Contact:
Re: Kalahari Reflections March 2014
Raptors galore
After the brownie disappeared over the dune, we carried on towards Melkvlei.
The way up was littered with raptors of all shapes and sizes.
Loads of lanners, and tawnys, as well as a juvenile martial
A lot of the sightings were into the sun or a bit too far away to get decent pictures, but we did get to capture this tawny
As well as this juvenile bateleur being harassed by a fork-tailed drongo.
After the brownie disappeared over the dune, we carried on towards Melkvlei.
The way up was littered with raptors of all shapes and sizes.
Loads of lanners, and tawnys, as well as a juvenile martial
A lot of the sightings were into the sun or a bit too far away to get decent pictures, but we did get to capture this tawny
As well as this juvenile bateleur being harassed by a fork-tailed drongo.
Wishing I was in the KTP
- GavinW
- Posts: 1188
- Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 4:29 pm
- Country: South Africa
- Location: Cape Town
- Contact:
Re: Kalahari Reflections March 2014
We stopped for coffee and rusks at Melkvlei, before turning around and heading back down to Twee Rivieren
The trip down was really productive:
Just after Rooiputs, we spotted this honey badger in the road. By the time we got closer to it, it had moved off onto the dunes to the right, and continued to forage as it travelled along the dune and eventually out of sight
It was only our second ever honey badger sighting, neither of which have been great. All the more reason to return again!
We popped into camp for a short while before carrying on to TR to go shower and to get more wood, ice and petrol.
The road further south produced the usual suspects, including this Kori Bustard.
And then about 2kms before Twee Rivieren, this lioness parked off under a tree.
We heard that she had a cub with her, but we never saw it.
After refuelling at Twee Rivieren, we decided to head back via the Auob and Lower Dune Road.
Middle of the day, not much about barring the odd flower
and some ostriches parked off in the road,
The trip down was really productive:
Just after Rooiputs, we spotted this honey badger in the road. By the time we got closer to it, it had moved off onto the dunes to the right, and continued to forage as it travelled along the dune and eventually out of sight
It was only our second ever honey badger sighting, neither of which have been great. All the more reason to return again!
We popped into camp for a short while before carrying on to TR to go shower and to get more wood, ice and petrol.
The road further south produced the usual suspects, including this Kori Bustard.
And then about 2kms before Twee Rivieren, this lioness parked off under a tree.
We heard that she had a cub with her, but we never saw it.
After refuelling at Twee Rivieren, we decided to head back via the Auob and Lower Dune Road.
Middle of the day, not much about barring the odd flower
and some ostriches parked off in the road,
Wishing I was in the KTP
Re: Kalahari Reflections March 2014
Funny photo of the ostrich trio
The Violet is Aptosimum elongatum
The Violet is Aptosimum elongatum
- GavinW
- Posts: 1188
- Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 4:29 pm
- Country: South Africa
- Location: Cape Town
- Contact:
Re: Kalahari Reflections March 2014
We carried on and saw some gemsbok at Kij Kij
And this bateleur trying to keep cool in the grass next to a puddle
Back at camp we had another evening in paradise :P
And then sunset :P
And this bateleur trying to keep cool in the grass next to a puddle
Back at camp we had another evening in paradise :P
And then sunset :P
Wishing I was in the KTP
- GavinW
- Posts: 1188
- Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 4:29 pm
- Country: South Africa
- Location: Cape Town
- Contact:
Re: Kalahari Reflections March 2014
March 18: A full moon and more reflections
We were up early as usual but left the “gates” as always at the official time (SO is a stickler for rules)
Original plan was to head south, but we changed our minds after yesterday’s sightings, and also the road around Leeudril had been pretty quiet the last few days.
In addition we would be travelling in the same direction as the cars from TR so we would have a whole lot less traffic. ( that’s if you can call the traffic in the KTP traffic!!) :lol:
The morning started with a sighting of the full moon setting in the west
All was pretty quiet as we wandered up Towards Kij Kij, but once again our feathered friends kept us entertained.
A snake eagle slowly waking up
And another glaring in our direction.
We still had not seen any other cars by the time we reached these Gemsbok sipping water in the road. We wondered if we had made a poor call in going north, but then looking at these pictures afterwards, I know we didn’t.
and one more for good luck!!
We were up early as usual but left the “gates” as always at the official time (SO is a stickler for rules)
Original plan was to head south, but we changed our minds after yesterday’s sightings, and also the road around Leeudril had been pretty quiet the last few days.
In addition we would be travelling in the same direction as the cars from TR so we would have a whole lot less traffic. ( that’s if you can call the traffic in the KTP traffic!!) :lol:
The morning started with a sighting of the full moon setting in the west
All was pretty quiet as we wandered up Towards Kij Kij, but once again our feathered friends kept us entertained.
A snake eagle slowly waking up
And another glaring in our direction.
We still had not seen any other cars by the time we reached these Gemsbok sipping water in the road. We wondered if we had made a poor call in going north, but then looking at these pictures afterwards, I know we didn’t.
and one more for good luck!!
Wishing I was in the KTP
- GavinW
- Posts: 1188
- Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 4:29 pm
- Country: South Africa
- Location: Cape Town
- Contact:
Re: Kalahari Reflections March 2014
Once the bokke had moved off the road we carried on towards Melkvlei. All was quiet, as it was further north, bar the lion tracks which teased us in the road.
We went up as far as Gunong before turning back. The roads were disgusting!!
All was pretty quiet…again. Well not really
But that is what the Kgalagadi is all about. You don’t see wow sightings every day, and when you do they are not always right on top of you.
But then often they are. Not today though
Instead we revelled in the inherent beauty of the park as illustrated in these images.
Our day included a pit stop at TR and on the way home we saw this cobra on top of a sociable weavers nest
And another stunning sunset that evening
We went up as far as Gunong before turning back. The roads were disgusting!!
All was pretty quiet…again. Well not really
But that is what the Kgalagadi is all about. You don’t see wow sightings every day, and when you do they are not always right on top of you.
But then often they are. Not today though
Instead we revelled in the inherent beauty of the park as illustrated in these images.
Our day included a pit stop at TR and on the way home we saw this cobra on top of a sociable weavers nest
And another stunning sunset that evening
Wishing I was in the KTP