When the mice can’t play....... KTP June 2018

[GavinW]

Thanks everyone for your great input
You guys

Let me continue...


8 June 2018: The calm after the storm

We left Mata Mata on the 8th June not knowing what the Kgalagadi would show us today.
After the previous day’s bonanza we were certainly not expecting much, (but hoping otherwise)
The morning started off on a really promising note only after this tawny eagle put us on ignore





Just before Sitsas, we spotted this cheetah, high up on the dune





Unfortunately, it moved off over the dune and disappeared
Cheetahs continued to elude us
Further south, we had a stunning sighting of these vultures on the 14th Borehole loop, who had been mating, and now were building a nest











And a little bit further down the road, a lanner which had just been in a tree flying off.




At the waterhole, a journey of giraffe were quenching their thirsts






After that we travelled down to Kamqua and then back to camp, but saw very little
Our evening drive saw us going as far as Sitsas, where we came upon a mini traffic jam
The cause
Some more far off cheetah again!!



As well as the usual suspects along the way






Back in camp that evening, we spent the evening with this Pearl Spotted Owlet in the tree near the hide

[Mel]

Ja, it's either leopards or cheetahs

Love that pearlie! Beautiful

[Lisbeth]

The owlets are so pretty

Great pics of the vultures, Gavin

Wouldn't it be boring if you could always find cheetahs and leopards around

[GavinW]

June 9: We explore the Aoub (again )

We were up early in the morning and first in the queue at the gate
I’m still not sure why I bother, because after about a kilometre into the drive, just about everyone has sped past, looking for lions.

Anyway, I digress. Waiting for the attendant to give us our permit, I took the opportunity of taking a photo of
The Mata Mata/Namibia border post



And of my SO walking up to reception



First up on our drive were these really inquisitive giraffe.
What are you looking at........ I mean really



This sleepy Giant Eagle Owl wasn’t too impressed with our presence



But at 14th borehole, Debbie hit the jackpot

Her best A Gymnogene perching nicely in a tree



Before it decided that, somewhere, there was food to be had.







Further on a unicorn



And some really pretty kudo at 13th borehole





Our gymnogene sightings for the morning were yet over





And for the last few trips I have been dying to get a decent picture of one of my most favourite birds.
The fork tailed drongo

[Lisbeth]

The drongo has been too close to wet paint Nice photo though

Also nice pics of the gymnogene

[Richprins]

Cracking pics!

[GavinW]

Thanks everyone once again for all your kind comments.

Our plan this day was to head down to Kamqua and back, so after spotting the gymnogene we carried on down south.
We saw only the usual suspects in the riverbed, as well as this eagle

Debbie thinks it may be a booted eagle







At 13th borehole, this crow decided that the bakkie was quite a cool place to hang out, an it took some persuasion to get it to fly off




Just before Urikaruus, we came upon these Bat eared foxes quite close to the road. Usually they move off fairly quickly, but these two were really engrossed with each other, and spent the time happily grooming themselves









After a leg stretch and cup of coffee at Kamqua we decided to return back to Mata Mata

Bird sightings continued to be the order of the day and included these Scaly headed finches




As well as this Swallow tailed bee eater posing beautifully




Our last sighting of our morning drive was of these two cheetahs, high up on the dunes in-between Urikaruus and 13th the borehole loop.




We watched them as they carried on in a southerly direction before disappearing over the top

[Lisbeth]

What a fabulous sighting of the bat-eared foxes

It could very well be a booted eagle

[GavinW]

9 June cont...As has proven to be the norm this trip, the day was not yet over.


We spent a relaxing mid day break in camp at Mata Mata before setting out on our evening drive
All was quiet as we travelled down the Aoub until we got top a major traffic jam about 3 kilometres before Craig Lockhart
We obviously stopped, and asked what was going on

Our sixth leopard of the trip.


I was lucky enough to position ourselves in a favourable position for the sighting.








The leopard continued to walk along the tree and into a nearby sheppard’s bush






The object of the leopard’s attention




The leopard disappeared into the bush, and we waited in anticipation of a kill.
However, it was not to be and by the time we all had to leave to get back to camp in time, the cat was still well hidden in the bushes

[Lisbeth]

Lovely leopard sighting and pics, but I am also fascinated by the springbiks in the evening light