Finally KTP

[Lisbeth]

You were heading for the giraffes

Do you have crimson-breasted shrikes in Addo? I seem to remember that I have seen one

Nice owls

[Mel]

Well done on capturing the shrike. Nasty birds who never sit still But ever so pretty

[Richprins]

Nice, Peej!

Amazing how the grass can grow there in the desert, hence the fires of late!

I like the queleas, didn't even know they were there too!

[PJL]

You were heading for the giraffes

Do you have crimson-breasted shrikes in Addo? I seem to remember that I have seen one

Nice owls

No not this far south Lis. Maybe it's the Southern Boubou you're thinking of? They have a rusty underside

Well done on capturing the shrike. Nasty birds who never sit still But ever so pretty

They really never pose for a photo do they... was pure luck this one popped out into the open

Nice, Peej!

Amazing how the grass can grow there in the desert, hence the fires of late!

I like the queleas, didn't even know they were there too!

Yeah lots of fires, and even more since we left

[PJL]

Mata Mata was a nice quiet camp, but I think you'd have to be well stocked on pretty much everything you needed as the shop had very little stock or variety of items.

Travelling back in the direction of Twee Rivieren, we went back through the scorched sections - some of which were still smouldering



And then just after 14th borehole a small congregation of cars for 3 cheetahs that were relaxing in the shade of a tree a long way off the road



I was kicking myself a bit, because we must have somehow missed them on the way up. There had been a number of cars by the actual waterhole but they seemed to just be watching the quelea, so we maybe missed out on seeing the cheetah on the move earlier in the day

It was hot and the cats became very flat so we continued on our way and found some spotted eagle owl chicks. They really do look like little angry birds







Some of the giraffe from earlier had moved down into the riverbed







We saw quite a few swallow-tailed bee eaters during the trip, and this one was kind enough to pose for a while

[Lisbeth]

The owl chicks are funny looking little fellars

Nothing flatter than a flat cheetah

The landscape looks even more desolate after the fires

Lovely giraffe pics

[Richprins]

Weird to see the burned desert, Peej!

The owl pics are superb, very serious expressions!

Shop not up to scratch...

[Pumbaa]

Thanks PJL,

you captured the flock of queleas brilliantly

Also great cheetah sighting and fell in love with those owl chich shots - WoW

[Mel]

I guess, Mata was low on stock that day. Granted, it's not as good as Twee, but after delivery, you usually get quite a good choice.
Well, for the Kgalagdi that is

And don't beat yourself up too much about having missed the Musketeers on the way up. By the time you got there from Twee,
they most likely had been lying low already anyways. They are early risers and only very few people get to see them active after 8 am

I love owls! The way they look at you - and especially the chicks - is just awesome

[PJL]

Thanks Lis, RP, Pumbaa & Mel for the comments

Heading back to TR in the heat of the day, we came across an interesting sight at Kamfersboom... a bateleur and a lappet-faced vulture with its wings spread out. Perhaps it had just had a bath - either with water or dust







Once back at camp we relaxed late into the afternoon and took the opportunity to get some pics by the sign





Later in the evening we popped back in up to Leeuwdril where there was a lanner falcon drinking



And once back for the night a quick visit to the hide where there were a couple of eland