Finally KTP

[RogerFraser]

PJL been off for a while and catching up again .

WOW what a great trip you having . The Foxes and Bat Ear foxes are

Cape Cobra Honey badger Secretary bird and others Looks like the family having a good time as well which makes for a super trip

[PJL]

Thanks Lis, RP, Mel, Pumbaa & Roger for the comments and following along

As we continued on our way back to TR we came across another interesting sighting... a goshawk (perhaps juv pale chanting ) eyeing a young cape cobra





We thought that the snake wouldn't stand much of a chance, but the goshawk wasn't totally sure whether it could take it on. The raptor moved further away almost as if it was pretending not to be there any longer, and the cobra made a bolt for cover and survived for another day.



As it was now the heat of the day everything else had retreated for shade, including this red hartebeest and a barn owl family





After a nice break at the pool, we took a short evening drive up the Auob side where the bird sightings continued. First up what I think might be a juvenile gabar goshawk



Then an ostrich, tawny eagle and a kori bustard putting on a show









Driving back to camp past Monro there were loads of cars but nothing much to see. We learned later that there had been quite a bit of leopard activity in the evening at that waterhole and some people would be in luck that evening as well. Not us unfortunately, but we did see a faulty gemsbok, a meerkat sentry and a jackal at Houmoed to round off the evening

[nan]

all that I love in the park... juv PCG (Pale Chanting Goshawk) with a Cape Cobra
Barn Owls... my preferred
Kori "in amour" , Suricates
well done PJL, I love your TT

[Lisbeth]

Beautiful pics of the PCG and the cobra

Barn owls

The kori

and finally a meerkat

[Mel]

First up what I think might be a juvenile gabar goshawk

Spot on!

Where was the barn owl nest? There used to be one at the entrance of 13th or 14th which looked very similar to yours, but it collapsed.

Poor oryx looks as if its horns soften in the heat and bended down

[Richprins]

Lots of sightings, Peej!

The meerkats are so photogenic!

And what a hawk/snake encounter!

[PJL]

all that I love in the park... juv PCG (Pale Chanting Goshawk) with a Cape Cobra
Barn Owls... my preferred
Kori "in amour" , Suricates
well done PJL, I love your TT

Thanks nan

Beautiful pics of the PCG and the cobra

Barn owls

The kori

and finally a meerkat

Thank you Lis... was fun to watch the cobra/PCG interaction

First up what I think might be a juvenile gabar goshawk

Spot on!

Where was the barn owl nest? There used to be one at the entrance of 13th or 14th which looked very similar to yours, but it collapsed.

Poor oryx looks as if its horns soften in the heat and bended down

Haha... yes some melted horns
The barn owl nest was a few km into the park before you get to the junction for Auob/Nossob routes. Heading into the park it was on the right hand side... the tree had lots of weavers nests and if you parked in one spot you could look back up to where these owls were hiding

Lots of sightings, Peej!

The meerkats are so photogenic!

And what a hawk/snake encounter!

Thanks RP, yep was fun to watch the encounter. Maybe the PCG was just a bit inexperienced letting the snake get away like that

[PJL]

Our plan for the next day was to get up early and head further up the Nossob side to have a skottel at Dikbaardskolk. But the plan started off with a major hiccup as I realised we didn't have nearly enough fuel... and the petrol station at TR only opens at 7am

We hung around in camp watching every minute tick away whilst others drove into the park

But whilst waiting a strange noise turned out to be a cardinal woodpecker on a tree nearby



Finally when we had fuel on board we set off and wondered what we might have missed by being delayed. Not too much it seemed... as we drove along the Nossob valley there was nothing much to be seen for the first couple of hours, until finally we got to Gunong where a couple of lion were lazing around







This was the closest lion sighting of the trip so we were quite happy parking off to watch them





One got up and relieved itself. We were glad not to be downwind as lion poop is the foulest smell on the planet





Then it was back to lazing around





And one last arty shot before we continued on our way

[Mel]

Ah, thanks for the barn owl intel. Will check next time if they kept that abode

Handsome lions you got there Beautiful photos!
But I have to admit, I didn't know that their poop was so stinky. Obviously, so far we were lucky enough to never have caught a whiff of it.

[Lisbeth]

Good looking youngsters

The worst animal stink that I have run into was that of the wild dogs