Paradise under stress: KTP October 2019

[Peter Betts]

Thanks for the explanation, Gavin

I'll have to admit that I'm totally disorientated just looking at your photos, but it seems that the campsite is still at the fence?
So, basically bordering the entrance road from the south whereas most other campsites as smack in the middle with now view
but a lot of neighbours close by? Not sure if you ever visited Kruger (seeing you to are truly KTP nuts like ourselves ), but
the campsite would qualify as "perimeter"

I dont think KTP has Perimeter stands but its coming to make more money ..just a matter of time

[Peter Betts]

Were you the only people in the hide?

you produce enough energy with your solar panel that you don't need an electrified camp-site when staying at any of the camps?
Also, what makes campsite no. 5 in Nossob so special?

Nossob is a lion stronghold

Like Gavin our solar panels are only used to power the deep freeze..No 5 is the best site at Nossob ..Privacy which is what I seek out when going to Nossob. It didnt matter in the old days ..None of the sites were electrified in the whole park..and in those days when I had informed the Section ranger in writing a letter months in advance (No Wifi stuff in those days) I would arrive to an empty camp as usual and a huge pile of camelthorn wood at the site for our stay ..The permanent residents loved company as there were literally no visitors apart from the odd family staying in a unit for a night or two here and there

[Mel]

Thanks for the explanation, Gavin

I'll have to admit that I'm totally disorientated just looking at your photos, but it seems that the campsite is still at the fence?
So, basically bordering the entrance road from the south whereas most other campsites as smack in the middle with now view
but a lot of neighbours close by? Not sure if you ever visited Kruger (seeing you to are truly KTP nuts like ourselves ), but
the campsite would qualify as "perimeter"

I dont think KTP has Perimeter stands but its coming to make more money ..just a matter of time

Okay, then I misunderstood what "perimeter" means. I though those were along the fence?

[GavinW]

Wednesday 9 October 2019


Whist on our early morning drive around Marie’s se Draai we came upon these dusty Gemsbok at Marie’s se Gat
A typical Kgalagadi sighting and very special, even if it was straight into the light

Before we returned to camp after a quiet drive there and back, this Lanner Falcon interrupted the boredom for a while.

[GavinW]

Back in camp, it was off bird watching.

We spotted this Pearl Spotted Owlet in a tree near reception

And a barn owl in a tree just south of the petrol station.

The boys got back after a while. They also had had a quiet drive.

Debbie had set herself a challenge to be able to do a 6 minute plank by the time she turned 60.
It was still 2 months before her birthday, but when she mentioned it to the boys, testosterone took over and the challenge was on.





At least I just had to video it.

I was very proud of my girl, she handled the challenge in her stride, whilst the others also finished it, and they were a whole lot more shaky than she was at the end.

[GavinW]

Our evening drive around Marie’s (again!!) was also pretty uneventful.
This Pale Chanting Goshawk being the highlight of the trip.

That was until we got to Rooikop....

As we got to the waterhole we saw this brown hyena drinking at the trough.

[GavinW]

Our excitement was short-lived however as we soon realised that it had a badly injured leg and was limping quite badly.
It also seemed to be in pretty poor condition

[GavinW]

Eventually, with time running out before we needed to return to camp, we left Rooikop and returned to Nossob
Kgalagadi sunsets are always special.

[Richprins]

Sad to see the campers losing their minds, Gavin...

Never seen that Rooikop, looks like a nice setting with the trees there!

[Alf]

Exercise in camp

Nice sunset