Addo and the Frontier Parks - Two-timing the KTP (March 2012) *

[Mel]

And the bull marched back to the pressie he had left for the family:


Yikes, that stuff stinks!


Let’s get out of here before anyone notices it’s mine.


One of the youngsters was eager to share the content in its mouth. I’m sure its mum had taught it not to speak while eating…

[Mel]

So, we're still on our first full day and it's only 8am...

After a while we proceeded towards Vukani loop – one of the names that came up for possible lion sightings. Would we be so lucky? But these ice wouldn’t melt in your mouth beggars brought our mission to a abrupt halt. Who would be able to resist such beautiful faces?


Coming out of Ngulube loop we saw a little traffic jam in the distance. Sure we wanted to find out what that was about, especially since we were moving in lion’s country. Well, what can I say? It was Vukani loop the cars were parked at.

– here was lion number 1:



He’s one of Gina’s boys. But he didn’t intend to stay for long and flopped down again on the other side of the bushes. What can I say?
In the Kalahari we would have never bothered to sit an hour with sleeping lions.


But with only 9 lions in Addo things are a bit different. Plus, these lions didn’t just fall flat and stay like that for the rest of the day – they kept changing positions and that’s worthwhile waiting for for nutcases like SO and I. Only the call of nature made us leave the site.

[Mel]

We wanted to head back to the camp for a quick pit stop and go out again to drive all the way up to Hapoor Dam to watch the masses of ellies enjoying the water there. On route to the camp a beautiful male bushbuck crossed the road in front of us and allowed us a quick glance.


Then the first warties came up and three of the very few who would stand still and even pose nicely to have their photo taken:



And a close up


Gosh, they are hairy monsters!

[Mel]

Of course we couldn’t resist on checking up on the lions again after we had finished our business at the camp. Well, they were up and about again giving us some great photo opportunities and setting us back another hour at least in our mission to get to Hapoor.

Gina walking towards the road


Followed by boy number 1 who was intensely interested in something in the long grass


But luckily decided to follow mum


While Gina had got closer already

[Mel]

And boy number 2 was waiting in the shade of a far too small bush right next to the road:


His stare told us to move on, but as we didn’t he gave us a piece of his mind:


Still there???


And then had enough of the tinned food and chose to move himself if we didn’t want to do him the favour of getting lost.


Somehow it got lost on me that we had seen 4 lions when we had come back from the camp on route to Hapoor Dam. :oops:
At the end of the day, you’ll understand how that lapse could have happened…

Here is a pic of the second collared lioness who I believe to be Josie.

[Richprins]

Very lucky, Mel!

The animals look a little more hairy and shaggy down there in the Cape, don't they!?

The same applies to many of the Western Cape humans, in my experience, ironically, and is probably related to inbreeding.

That is why us Northerners trekked away centuries ago!

No offence to WP supporters...

[Ronnie]

WOW Mel, what lovely sightings and pics!

Those lions in the grass are stunning.

I do however see some work ahead for you.
RP needs some history and geography lessons -O

[Mel]

Shortly after we had left the lions at around 11am, we were treated to another bushbuck sighting:


And a feathery road block:


We didn’t even have to go all the way to Hapoor to be able to witness some adorable ellie interaction:


The group soon left and made space for a lone bull:


It didn’t take long before he got distracted by something:

[Mel]

It was his friend coming up to the waterhole!

Sniff, sniff.


Did you brush your teeth this morning?


Ja, smells lekker.


Then you can have a big head bang!





Eish, that little one smells funny!


The thirsty zebras watched bemused

[Mel]

While the bulls – happily reunited – did everything in unison:

Having a sip


Curling their trunks





Flapping their ears



Hey, you thugs, go away now! It’s our turn at the bar, don’t finish it all off!


Sorry, for the amount of ellie shots - but KTP left us a bit deprived of the gentle giants and we did enjoy
watching them very much...