Extended KTP Trip oct 2013

[Mel]

Having seen your car, I still can't believe that you got all of that fitted in there.

[Kesheshe]

OK are you guys on board?

Day 1 - 3rd October

After departed Pretoria the drive went well to Kuruman for our first night stop except the stop and goes. We hit 5 of them along the way which we did expect but caused quite a delay.

We eventually got into our accommodation for the night around 3h45pm. We booked dinner at the restaurant as we did not want to unpack anything from the van for a one night stop. Dinner was nice and after showering we got into bed by 10pm.

Day 2 - 4th October

We got up in a good mood as today we would drive through the gate at TR into KTP. We were up fairly early at 5h30am and enjoyed our first early morning coffee of the trip. We went to breakfast and started the van for the 500km drive.

No stop and goes today so we made good progress and reached Uptington in good time. I dropped SO at the shops to get a few last minute items while i went to fill with fuel. This did not take long and we departed ready for our adventure.

It was now getting hot and we were both glad we had re-gassed the aircon in the van and stated we think we are going to use it a lot. We eventually entered KTP at 1pm after completing the normal check in processes. We both had a good giggle at the permit and thought how are the going to write in our permit as after around 5 days it would be full.

First stop was the petrol station to fill up with diesel and then deflate the tyres to 1.4b in the back and 1.2b in the front. While i was doing this SO went to the shop to buy some ice, water and wood. The next activity was to unpack the books, get the GPS sorted, cameras, back seat layout, IPAD for Roberts etc. which we managed to complete in fairly good time.

We eventually entered the park itself around 1h45pm. For those who have followed our previous reports we utilise the first afternoon to feel out or surrounding and to basically start the distressing process we do not take any photo's unless it is something unusual.

This trip is no different so we proceed slowly to Urikaruus where we will be spending our first night in the park. On the way we spot the normal KTP animals and have 2 separate sightings of cheetah. One group of 3 and an individual - we would get to know these cheetah well over the coming 3 weeks. Both these sights the cheetah were in the shade on the far side of the river bed so no real photo opportunity. SO took only one photo just to check camera settings.



We arrived there around 4h30pm and were allocated unit number 1. This is the first time in all the years that we have had a unit other than number 4.

As it is only a one night stop we unpack very little and just relax for the rest of the late afternoon and evening. This wilderness camp is very nice for photos but the wind had now picked up and we knew what that meant - a quiet night.

We were provided correct not even Charlie can out. We had some items in the fridge we needed to use early in the trip as the freezer was full. Therefore tonight was chicken pieces on the braai on fresh rolls with salad. We used pepper, salt and fresh lemon as the marinade which ended up simple but nice. Drinks for the night were gin and tonic for me and archers with lemonade for SO.

After a very chilled start to the trip we were in bed at 9h30pm.

[Kesheshe]

Day 3 - 5th October

We woke up nice and early and went down stairs and made our coffee and sat on the deck at about 5h15am. It was still early October so the light had not risen yet. As we sat in the semi darkness the birds started to awaken and entertain us with a chorus of sound.

The waterhole was quiet but is was a dream first morning in the park. We very slowly packed the few items into the van and unfortunately had to depart as we had a long days drive to Gharagab. In October the gate opens at 6am but we were enjoying the morning so much we only departed at 6h35am after collecting our permit.

The plan for the day was fairly simple drive south then over the upper dune road and then north. Not everyone manages their trip the same but again today SO and me use the long drive to assess our surroundings and start to take some photos but the main objective is to continue the distressing process which normally takes us a few days. The reason we do this is for us anyway to fully enjoy KTP we need to get all our current life challenges to the back of our minds.

Our first nice sighting of the drive was:

Steenbok

Reproduction and Development
Gestation period: 170 days. Litter size: 1. Weaning: 3 months. Sexual maturity: Females as early as 6-7 months, males begin to mature around 9 months. Life span: 10-12 years.

Baby steenbok may be born throughout the year, and can stand and walk just a few minutes after birth. However, the infant is usually hidden away by its mother for a few weeks before beginning to follow her around.

Ecology and Behaviour
Steenbok tend to be most active during the day, although when temperatures peak at midday they may seek refuge in shade. This species appears to live in monogamous pairs which share a territory some 4-100 hectares in size - however, the two animals are usually found apart and only come together to breed. The territory is marked by both sexes by using dung heaps. When threatened, steenbok will hide by lying on the ground and freezing in order to avoid the danger. If the threat continues to approach, they will rocket away for a short distance and then try to hide again. Aardvark burrows may be used as refuges.

Family group: Solitary, although a stable pair (which meets up solely for breeding) shares one territory. Diet: Mostly leaves from shrubs and trees, but also fruits and grasses. Main Predators: All major predators, including wild cats (both large and small) and pythons. Infants may be hunted by smaller predators such as jackals, raptors, monitor lizards, and baboons.





We drove across the dune road slowly. We take a different strategy to most visitors in that we enjoy the different aspects of the dune roads and the possibility of seeing something different. After the steenbok we had nice sightings of kestrel's, PCG hunting, Northern Black Korhaan (male and female). We were about 16km across when SO asked me to reverse.

She got the bino's out and turned to me and said there is a cheetah over there - i looked and said you are mad. After telling me exactly where to look she was correct a cheetah in the middle of no where. This was on of the best spots on the trip and i still do not really know how she first spotted it.

We continued on the drive and had our first coffee break at Melkviei which also allowed us to stretch our legs. After the short stop we continued north towards Nossob but i must say this stretch of road has never been productive for us and today was no different.

We arrived at Nossob refuelled and bought some more ice, water, wood from the shop for our days at Gharagab. It was now around lunch time and instead of having lunch there we sorted it out and went to sit at Cubitje Quap so we could be entertained by the doves etc.

After lunch we hit the long road north towards the Gharagab turnoff.

[Richprins]

Thanks for all the tips and homework to read, Kesheshe!




Very professional indeed!

[Kesheshe]

Day 3 - 5th October (Continued)

We continued north and bye now it was hot so the only real sightings was normal KTP animals drinking at the waterholes. We made good progress and reached the turn of to Gharagab. Sorry forgot to mention I engaged the hubs and drove from Nossob in 4x4 high.

This nice easy 4x4 drive was ahead of us:



For those worried about this drive don't it really is simple.

We arrived safely at 3h45pm just as it was started to cool a little. We were allocated unit 3 which controls the lights at the waterhole. The reason for this was that we had the entire camp to ourselves for our 2 night stay which was a real bonus.

As we had a 2 night stay we unpacked quite a lot of stuff including our own table and chairs to make ourselves very comfortable. After unpacking we just sat on the deck and watched the shadows grow as the sun was setting behind us. The wind was still blowing and had actually strengthened. Keeps the temperature down but also animals away.

As we sat relaxing SO poured herself an Archer and lemonade but I had a decision to make. The reason for this was that my gin bottle was now socking into the sand at the bottom of the stairs at Urikaruus. Yes we broke it this morning while packing so whisky it was to be. Not complained (REALLY) you know what men are like but Johnnie Walker Black, water and lots of ice was not a bad substitute.

I lite the fire as once again tonight we were having chicken from the fridge with a variety of salads. The view was amazing and the silence fantastic.





For those that have not visited this camp before the units are above the waterhole which sits in a bowl with dunes on either side. As the sun started to disappear the little animals came out to play.



The significance of the photo above we only realised in the morning. The barking gecko's started there evening ritual in full force to break the silence. The fire was now ready so I proceeded to cook the chicken as SO prepared the salads. We knew from previous experience to use the salad stuff early on the trip as it would not last in the heat.

We put the table cloth on and lite the candles. We had a nice dinner watching the frequent jackal visits to the waterhole. We had one come up and sit right in front of our unit which was nice but disturbing as it meant that visitors have been feeding them. After eating we just sat and soaked in our surrounding and we both agreed there cannot be a better place to find your soul and relax.

To end the prefect evening we turned the lights out at the waterhole around 10pm and were heading to bed when the lions started to roar. They were far away but in this camp any sound travels for miles. We went to sleep to this magnificent sound.

It had been a long day.

[nan]

nice start
and then Gharagab
(I will be for the first time there... soon )

[Mel]

I can relate to the far and few between sightings between Melkvlei and Nossob.
Actually make it Twee to Nossob... We did get some nice things over the years
but relatively little compared to what the Auob has to offer.

As for the permit... Thought exactly the same and was totally surprised
to see that there were no entries from some camps.

[Mel]

Thanks for all the tips and homework to read, Kesheshe!




Very professional indeed!

And speedy, RP.

[Kesheshe]

Day 4 - 6th October

We woke at 6am just as the sun was starting to crest the dune in the far distance. After dragging ourselves out of bed we put on the kettle and went onto the deck. It to us a whole 5 seconds to turn around and go inside as it was fairly chilly and the wind had really strengthened during the night.

Even thou it is October the wind can make it chilly but luckily based on experience we had brought jackets and some warmer cloths with us. After digging out our jackets the kettle was boiled so we once again ventured onto the deck to watch the amazing sunrise this time warm and with coffee and rusks.

A brown hyena came to the waterhole for a drink but there was no hope of getting any photos so we had a chance to just focus and enjoy the sighting. After a while the birds started to awaken as well as the mice. The strong wind blow out the light on the geyser and Eric was very nice and came to fixed it for us.



These mice had managed somehow to eat through a backpack and got to a packet of peanuts inside. From this point on we keep all food stuff in an ammo box when inside the units.

It was now around 9am and the wind had started to whip up the sand so we went inside and read books for a couple of hours. By around 11am it had calmed a little so we decide to have a brunch. I lite the fire and so made the bread mix.

Brunch we had around 12h30pm OK really lunch time now but it was great with fresh bread, fried tomato's, pork sausages, bacon and scrambled eggs. It was nice to have it on the deck and as we still had a breeze it was not to hot.

This was the setup for the afternoon.

[nan]

oups already at Gharagab

we really need our own chairs
Are those of the camp not comfortable

seem to be nice