Addo Outings 2016

[PJL]

They still look great though You know living by themselves without females. may have added a lot of years to their lifetime

Wonderful photo of the ellie herd with the herons

It is always great to have the latest news from Addo. Thank you, Pete

News of the lion cubs?

The cubs are pretty much at the age now where they can only be called sub-adults. They're doing really well and showing good hunting instincts. All three of them and Josie had been with Roy & Nomad earlier in the day, so I was a bit disappointed not to see them

[Lisbeth]

You cannot see all you want to every time You are pretty good at finding "things" as it is

[Richprins]

Very nice, PJL!

These animal and place names are a bit eccentric...Arizona, Norman, Valli Moosa...

But I suppose that is the way of Cape people?

Also like the little warthogs!

[Mel]

Whoahhh, hold your horses... I'm getting lost here.

Firstly, when did it happen that somebody was able to tell who is Norman and who is Zwaai? You might remember that we saw one of them on an evening drive last time - together with Ronnie and our Oz friends from that webcam event. Ronnie didn't know exactly who we had seen, so I sent my shot on to Megan who was still in the park back then. She said, even their people weren't sure who is who in the Norman and Zwaai zoo... I remember thinking that I found that rather a poor acknowledgement, but she probably never bothered to get in touch with the real people and just tried to get rid of me like that.

Secondly, what's that talk about Arizona? I'm not going to the States in March (or am I? ) Seriously now, can you tell a bit more about that area being opened up and describe where to find it?

Oh, and btw, well spotted to H. but also generally. 4 lions within three hours is not that bad, I guess.

[PJL]

Whoahhh, hold your horses... I'm getting lost here.

Firstly, when did it happen that somebody was able to tell who is Norman and who is Zwaai? You might remember that we saw one of them on an evening drive last time - together with Ronnie and our Oz friends from that webcam event. Ronnie didn't know exactly who we had seen, so I sent my shot on to Megan who was still in the park back then. She said, even their people weren't sure who is who in the Norman and Zwaai zoo... I remember thinking that I found that rather a poor acknowledgement, but she probably never bothered to get in touch with the real people and just tried to get rid of me like that.

I ended up asking Zwaai Witbooi who was who. He was very quick to point out Zwaai I suppose if you have a lion named after yourself then you get to know it well
Having said that, most of the park staff appear to not be able to tell them apart

Secondly, what's that talk about Arizona? I'm not going to the States in March (or am I? ) Seriously now, can you tell a bit more about that area being opened up and describe where to find it?

So you know the main access road which cuts the park in two - the Addo Heights road? Normally people don't drive along it very much, but you can. If you're coming from the south and head up from the northern Ngulube/Harveys crossroads you then come to the Addo Heights road. Turning right onto the road you travel along it in an easterly direction and within about 500m you find the entrance to Gorah camp. There also used to be a gate at that point which was why people generally didn't venture beyond, but that gate (and the fencing which used to run along the southern side of the road) has now been removed so that the area has been opened up - I think up to the Schotia Safaris border. If you drive down the road about 3km past the Gorah entrance there is a section of buildings on the left side which is the sanparks Arizona station - I think it's staff accommodation amongst other things. There's a dam very shortly after on the right of the road - and that's what we're now calling Arizona

[harrys]

Great photos of the Lions and the Ellies

Those piggies are just so cute

[Flutterby]

Always nice to see lions, even lazy ones.

[Puff Addy]

Thank you for the information on the Arizona area, PJL.

I have had a look on Google Maps and the dam is 2.8 kilometres from the main N-S junction with the Addo Heights road.

Excellent intelligence from a local field agent!

Kind regards,

Adam

[Mel]

Thanks for both - the explanation where you got the who's who from and also regarding Arizona.
Having travelled with Ronnie I knew about that road and we even took a "short cut" after one of the evening drives
because we would have been late for in-park gate closing otherwise. But from the outside you're allowed into the
main camp until 10 pm if I remember correctly?

Will definitely venture to Arizona as we haven't driven that side of the road yet.

And I'll also compare the whisker spots to see which one we saw of Norman and Zwaai.
(Come one, Addo people, how hard is it?! )

[PJL]

No need for counting whisker spots - Norman is very easy to identify. He has a scar which breaks the bridge of his nose