/Ai/Ais-Richtersveld April 2015

Post Reply
User avatar
Bushveld Jock
Posts: 2001
Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2012 3:52 pm
Contact:

/Ai/Ais-Richtersveld April 2015

Post by Bushveld Jock »

End of March and in April we travelled more than 1700 km to visit three National Parks in SA in the arid regions. Our journey took us from our home in Mpumalanga to the most north-western corner of our country at the mouth of the Orange river and back with a detour to Kgalagadi Transfrontier park. We crossed over SA borders into Namibia at Sendelingsdrift on a pontoon and at Rietfontein back to South Africa for the last leg at Kgalagadi.

Our trip took us to the following parks and places:

Augrabies Falls NP - first stop
Port Nolloth and McDougall's Bay - drive pass
/Ai / Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier park (both sides) - 4 days
Southern Namibia - 1 day
Kgalagadi Transfrontier park - 7 days

Augrabies Falls NP: Day 1 (28 March 2015)

Our first overnight stop was at Augrabies at The Falls Guest House outside the park. The park is about 128 km south of Upington and we reached Augrabies late afternoon with still enough time for a quick day trip to see the falls. We still wanted to visit the park the next morning, but due to late opening time for day visitors rather decided to leave early reaching our next stop, Sendlingsdrift not too late. That was a good move because after 4 pm the fuel station closes and you can then only fill up after 8 am.

http://www.thefallsaugrabies.com/gallery.php

When planning a visit rather book for a 2 night stay and stay within the park to capture the beautiful sunsets / sunrise and to explore the game driving section.

The Falls:

Image

Image

Image

Image

Late afternoon at Ararat Lookout

Image

Image

Klipspringers near Ararat Lookout:

Image

End of Day 1. \O


Kgalagadi: Dec 2015
KNP Maroela, Shingwedzi & Pretoriuskop: March 2016
User avatar
Richprins
Committee Member
Posts: 75579
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 3:52 pm
Location: NELSPRUIT
Contact:

Re: /Ai/Ais-Richtersveld April 2015

Post by Richprins »

Jolly good! O/\

The river looks a bit low? -O-


Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
User avatar
Alf
Posts: 10708
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2014 12:40 pm
Country: south africa
Location: centurion
Contact:

Re: /Ai/Ais-Richtersveld April 2015

Post by Alf »

Great start and a very long trip you had


Next trip to the bush??

Let me think......................
User avatar
Bushveld Jock
Posts: 2001
Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2012 3:52 pm
Contact:

Re: /Ai/Ais-Richtersveld April 2015

Post by Bushveld Jock »

Richprins wrote:Jolly good! O/\

The river looks a bit low? -O-

That time of the year is usually record levels, but not this year and a bit disappointed. If you compare the monthly flow to last year about 7 times less and record in 2011 was 27 times more. Rainfall this year was not very good, so won't be strange to she load shedding for water in a year or two unless it improves.

Record of Water volumes passing Upington per month.
201101 7214
201102 5454
201103 2309
201104 2663
201105 2092
201106 2593
201403 1354
201404 538
201501 158
201502 168
201503 202
201504 251
201505 237
201506 194


Kgalagadi: Dec 2015
KNP Maroela, Shingwedzi & Pretoriuskop: March 2016
User avatar
Bushveld Jock
Posts: 2001
Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2012 3:52 pm
Contact:

Re: /Ai/Ais-Richtersveld April 2015

Post by Bushveld Jock »

Alf wrote:Great start and a very long trip you had
:ty: Should have posted a while back already. :o0ps:


Kgalagadi: Dec 2015
KNP Maroela, Shingwedzi & Pretoriuskop: March 2016
User avatar
harrys
Posts: 13606
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2012 5:37 am
Country: South Africa
Location: Warmbaths
Contact:

Re: /Ai/Ais-Richtersveld April 2015

Post by harrys »

Wow beautiful photos ^Q^ ^Q^


KNP:
User avatar
Richprins
Committee Member
Posts: 75579
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 3:52 pm
Location: NELSPRUIT
Contact:

Re: /Ai/Ais-Richtersveld April 2015

Post by Richprins »

Eish...watershedding coming up all over....unless Lesotho helps more! ..0..


Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
User avatar
nan
Posts: 26443
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 9:41 pm
Country: Switzerland
Location: Central Europe
Contact:

Re: /Ai/Ais-Richtersveld April 2015

Post by nan »

I was there too... and less water than you had 0*\
right must go to the end of the park, the second part, after the tunnel was much more crowded with animals O/\
and the landscapes were astonishing

:ty: to awake some beautifull souvenirs from this part of SA

^Q^ ^Q^


Kgalagadi lover… for ever
https://safrounet.piwigo.com/
User avatar
Lisbeth
Site Admin
Posts: 66732
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:31 pm
Country: Switzerland
Location: Lugano
Contact:

Re: /Ai/Ais-Richtersveld April 2015

Post by Lisbeth »

We were there in December and there wasn't much water, but it is nice to see the falls in any case \O


"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
User avatar
Flutterby
Posts: 43941
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:28 pm
Country: South Africa
Location: Gauteng, South Africa
Contact:

Re: /Ai/Ais-Richtersveld April 2015

Post by Flutterby »

You certainly make the most of our lovely country. ^Q^ Great pics of the falls. \O


Post Reply

Return to “Travel Tales of other South African National Parks”