Stop the World I Wanna Get Off: My Escape to KTP

[ExFmem]

After spending my morning with these delightful cubs, I returned to camp, never having made it to KijKij, but with a smile on my face.


That smile was wiped away on the way to MataMata.

I got stuck in the deep sand. Normally I would be the “predator lookout”, and SO would do the digging. Being alone, it was up to me. Unfortunately it was around 12 noon, so not much traffic passing by, and very hot. Suck it up, buttercup - so I began to dig the sand from the front and back wheels. Obviously there are not predators waiting around every corner (I wish, from a photographer’s view point), for someone to alight from their vehicle, nor are we on their usual menu, so I really didn’t worry about that much.

I was VERY lucky that an obviously experienced gentleman stopped to assist me. He was a goldmine of knowledge, and said that the tire pressure that the guys at TweeR had deflated my tires to, was still too high (160 - 170). He lowered them all to 120, reversed me out off the sand, gave me some pointers if it happened again, and I was on my way!

I had no more problems the rest of the trip, but did see others stuck in the same stretch, including an abandoned flatbed truck, throughout my stay. To be fair, the rec. PSI according to all the camps, is 160.

For some reason, my enthusiasm for an afternoon drive had waned, so I stayed in camp….

[Richprins]

Wow, Ex! Quite an adventure there in the sand!

But all's well that ends well.

Nice insect shots, what a weird mouldy beetle!

And of course the lions all to yourself!

[Lisbeth]

Marvellous insect pics

The lion cubs are just too good to be true "The bravest" is my favourite

[Klipspringer]

Mr midge is very handsome I wonder if they breed in that mini waterhole

And the flying sausage ants are funny - good that you know they are harmless

Quite a few cubs for two mothers perhaps the KTP mothers are very capable at rearing lotsa kids

Getting stuck alone is not fun

MataMata in camp will be great, I think

[RogerFraser]

ExFem catching up .Love the pic of the Gemsbok in the distance .Those Lions look to be walking against the flow
The Lion pride is

[Pumbaa]

WoW ExFmem,

besides the shots from your six legged friends those from the lions are incredible too

Simply WoW

[Mel]

What a delightful lion sighting

Getting stuck not so much delight though. But it's always great to see how fellow travellers are ready to help. Even if the kind of guest seems to have change a lot over the past couple of years. Or at least people saying so

It is common knowledge that I'm not a big fan of insects but your photos are brilliant. Hats off.

Ex, would you mind sharing what you experienced in terms of Corona procedures from O. R. Tambo to check in at Twee, please? Would be tremendously helpful for our trip.

[ExFmem]

RP, Sis, Roger, Pumbaa - thank you each.

Klippies - I, too, love the little midge, and yes, thank heavens the male Driver Ants are harmless as those mandibles look quite fearsome. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take insect pics around MM camp, as I usually do, as it was way too windy EVERY day, so attaining focus was impossible.

Mel - As far as guest behavior, I was the first in a line of cars following some cheetahs (had been with them all to myself for quite a while), and not one car would pass me to get better shots. I finally stopped and gestured for them all to pass, not wanting to be a hog, and the first car’s reply was, “Are you sure?” - the others waved a thank you. They were all so polite!

Re: COVID procedures - the main problems for me were the USA airline/country requirements, as it was problematic finding a rapid testing site from the KTP, and they added an Attestation Form that was necessary while I was there, so had to find a place to print, etc. PIA

So - apart from your own airline/ country requirements, SA made it quite easy - print out the Entry Questionnaire, and the Departure Questionnaire before you leave, fill it out on the appropriate days, have a copy of your neg. COVID test available, and that’s it. There were some forms to fill in at TweeR upon arrival + a temp. Check, but that was it.

No telling how this new strain is gonna change things. Hopefully it will end up being overhyped. Good luck!

[ExFmem]

While we all fill our TTs with our most exciting day’s sightings, there are also days of near boredom, sightings-wise. On my first day out of MM, I took the (previously posted) pic of the hornbill w/ the beetle, a LBR,




and these 3 kudus




That’s it.

The next day I found a family of meerkats,





and this Crimson Breasted Shrike.




Back at camp, some more meerkats entertained me with their interactions.

















I certainly agree it’s wonderful just being out in the bush, but with very few sightings the first 2 days, no insects, no unusual visitors to the camp waterhole, I just had to keep the faith that one day something wonderful was coming my way…

[ExFmem]

I visit the Kalahari to get my wildlife fix, but I take offense at THEM visiting ME in my bedroom in the middle of the night.

“Holy Bat Guano, Batman!”

During the night my sleep was interrupted by UFOs zooming around the room. A flick of my flashlight revealed 2 bats circling the ceiling. Now I love to see bats, just not whizzing around my head. And as we are all painfully aware, bats are associated with a number of maladies, including, but not limited to - COVID, halitosis, premature balding, pestilence, famine, locusts, the TV series “Real Housewives” and anal seepage. (The last two are redundant.)

So I pulled the sheet over my head and went back to sleep, hoping they are not multitaskers, able to fly and poop at the same time, and they would find their way back out the thatched roof into the open air.

The next night at dusk, there the two of them were yet again. I started calling one of them “Batsh*t” and the other “Crazy”, (under my breath, of course, lest I seem exactly that by my neighbors ). I decided to open the sliding glass door in the bedroom, shut off all the lights and curtains, and hoped the bats’ radar was working and they’d find their way out. Voila! After a little while, out they flew!

We continued this routine every night I was there… slow learners, those bats.