Sixty, and stuck in the sand. KTP summer 2018

[GavinW]

Before I start this travel tale, I need to thank Debbie for all her photos that will appear in this report, and to apologise for the delay in getting this out. Work and travel commitments have kind of got in the way.


In the year leading up to my 60th birthday, Debbie asked me what I wanted to do to celebrate the milestone
The answer was easy. Spend it in the Kgalagadi, and so the planning began


After a fair amount of searching, waiting and grabbing whatever bookings we could we eventually ended up with the following interary:

21 Dec Twee Rivieren
22-24 Dec Nossob
25-29 Dec Polentswa
30,31 Dec Kalahari Tented Camp
1-3 Jan 19 Urikaruus
4-7 Jan Rooiputs

I couldn’t wait.

Friday 21 December: We head off to the park


We left Cape Town at 3am and after a casual drive up, towing our trailer we eventually arrived at the gates at Twee Rivieren at 4 pm with lots of time to spare.

After doing all the admin stuff, booking in, deflating tyres etc, we each had a quick shower before heading out on a game drive


Our first sighting was this Giant Eagle (Verreaux) Owl, still in the camp grounds



We left the sleeping bird and set off along the Nossob River

Just before Leeudril we saw an African Wild cat kill a mouse. All a bit too quick and obscured for any decent photos, but wow, what a way to start your holiday

Driving along revelling in the fact that we were back in our happy place, we got as far as Leeudril where we saw a few cars parked at the waterhole.

The reason:

This male lion was enjoying the early evening at the waterhole







We decided to stay and wait with him for a while, watching whilst he drank.

Having seen enough for the day, and exhausted after our early start we returned to camp, and after a few last minute phone calls back home, we were in bed without even lighting a fire.

We both died until our 4.30am alarm the next morning beckoned that our holiday proper was about to start

[harrys]

[Alf]

Another KTP report

And what a special way to celebrate your birthday

And wow what a start

[Lisbeth]

Gavin & Debbie

Nice healthy looking lion

I bet that you were tired. It's a long haul from CPT without a stop-over

[Mel]

In case of cheetahs sightings , I would appreciate if you could always give the approx location too

[Richprins]

Gavin!

[GavinW]

Thanks everyone for joining us on my birthday bash. I hope you enjoy the ride.
Mel, I will do my best.


Nossob Old Campsite no 4

The Kgalagadi teased us as we travelled from Twee Rivieren up to Nossob.
A Cape Fox just past Samevloeiing, Cheetahs high up on the top of a dune just before Kij Kij and some very far away, flatish lions on the dunes above the Melkvlei picnic spot were our sightings as we started out. Very nice, but they were too far away to really get even a proof pic worth sharing.
The lions did cause a bit of a interest with the other tourists at Melkvlei, eager to spot any lions they could.

Never the less, we were happy to be in the park and heading up to Nossob for the next three nights.
We did however get to see these Gemsbok in the road just before Melkvlei



We arrived at Nossob at about lunch time and were happy to be able to set up our tent and trailer in what we call “Old campsite no 4”, which is the second last un electrified campsite on the eastern fence of the camp. We have always preferred these campsites over the standard ones, as you can set up your tent in such a manner as to be able to look out into the park, with all the goings on in the camp site behind you.






We had a short drive around a quiet Marie’s se Draai that evening, which was followed by an early braai and bedtime, whilst the lions roared in the distance.

The lions were still roaring when we awoke at 4.30 to be greeted with the moon setting in the west.



We reckoned that the lions were to the south of Nossob, so we set off around Maries se Draai

We met the noisy neighbours at Maries se Gat.
3 lions, two of them well past their prime and one younger one



This was the younger of the trio



Whilst this guy appeared to be blind in one eye





We didn’t take any photos of the really old and sick member of the alliance.
After travelling around the loop, we decided that we would head north up to Kwang and back


These stunning Kudo were at the Rooikop waterhole





Crimson Breasted Shrikes are never easy to photograph, but I think Debbie did really well with this chap also at Rooikop





The Secretary birds were at Cubitjie Quap, as is the norm around mid day when they all congregate to drink





That evening, we returned to Maries, and the same flat lions had hardly moved.

[Alf]

Beautiful pictures of the lions

Loving that view from the camp site into the bush

[Lisbeth]

Lovely pic of the female kudu

[RogerFraser]

Can see why you choose that site from the pic

Flat Lions seem to behave the same in nearly every park