Rooiputs

[Mel]

You had good sightings there, Peter and BJ! Rooiputs is one of those waterholes that has us let down completely so far.
Maybe when we stay in Twee for two nights on our upcoming trip. Hope dies last.

Monica even.

[Bushveld Jock]

Camping at Rooiputs give on the advantage that you don't have to drive 23 km to get there from TR and stand in a queue for a permit waiting for the guard to open the gate first and then drive up to the office. If its quiet at Rooiputs you can take a short drive to Leeudril south or Kij-Kij north.

Before we were not that lucky with good sightings or at least don't have to fight to see the lions. In June 2012 the new road was not opened yet and lions were sitting in the grass along the new road just opposite a tree where the Botswana road goes around the tree. I think it is less than 1 km south of Rooiputs. The traffic jam was out of another world with the battle between Rooiputs resident becoming from the front on the 2-spoor track and the large crowd from TR on their way with off-road trailer toward Nossob. Some drove completely off-road and another guy just took the new road that was not opened yet. Yes KTP can get traffic jams so avoid school holidays and stay in small camps. That morning it was very misty but we just could not get close enough for a shot of the lions breath that you could see condensing in the cold air.

More pics of the campsite, sunset and resident male lions:

[Bushveld Jock]

Mel then you must have spotted the other katte (the meerkatte) and fox den while slipping along. In 2013 we missed them, because we sticked to the new road

[Bushveld Jock]

In 2012 we visited the park in June / July, but did not stay for too long south. Below are few of the sightings near Rooiputs on our first day of arrival and first morning drive:

[GavinW]

Camping at Rooiputs


No 5





No 6




And seen in the area

[Peter Connan]

[PRWIN]

Great shots Peter

[Peter Connan]

Thanks BJ, Mel and PR.

Mel, the Tawny was quite an interesting sighting.

That Tawny spent about half an hour at the water hole, mostly just standing there. Queing up were two secretary birds and a gemsbok.

Never thought a gemsbok would que for an eagle?

[Tina]

in 2012 our only sightings at the waterhole were





and



and in the area



2013 we only drove by once and there was not even a bird to be seen

[Bushveld Jock]

Thanks Tina for sharing your Rooiputs sightings . I hope this year you got a few more, like the foxes. Don't worry if it is not at the waterhole as long as it is in the area and closer to Rooiputs than Kij-Kij or Leeudril.