Page 2 of 14

Re: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park General Information

Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2014 6:32 pm
by nan
I can't find what I search...
I would like to know if the ATE at TR (?) (banknotes distributor) is still in function ?
it seems there was some problems 0:

and if we always have to pay petrol in cash ?... still nothing changed ?

Re: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park General Information

Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2014 6:50 pm
by Sharifa
nan 0/*

Best to carry cash for petrol. Only a South African petrol card or garage card and cash accepted. I would not count on the ATM at TR working so best to withdraw money in Upington.

Re: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park General Information

Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2014 7:20 pm
by nan
thank you Sharifa 0/0

Re: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park General Information

Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2014 3:41 pm
by ExFmem
Don't know if something changed, but last year (Sept./Oct. 2013) we were able to use our credit card for gas at all three places. Of course the system may go down sporadically, but we had no problems at all. -O- Hope that's still the case, as it makes it so much easier for international visitors.

Re: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park General Information

Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2014 6:33 pm
by nan
ExFmem wrote:Don't know if something changed, but last year (Sept./Oct. 2013) we were able to use our credit card for gas at all three places. Of course the system may go down sporadically, but we had no problems at all. -O- Hope that's still the case, as it makes it so much easier for international visitors.
it will be fine... so much banknotes for 5 weeks O-/... need a trailer =O:

Re: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park General Information

Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 11:25 am
by Mel
Tina wrote:Friday afternoon we returned from another wonderful trip to CT and KTP. It will probably take me a while to sort the pictures and to start the trip report. Just a short update for now:

It was very warm –day temperatures in the mid-30s most of the time. At night it went down to 1,5 degrees but mostly the temperatures stayed in the teens.

Dalkeith is out of order.

Grootkolk – we were told that the waterhole was going to be moved closer to the chalets end of September
while we were there bird baths were allowed again O/\ O/\
The king was forced to move towards Union’s End with his family. Two new lions (brothers?) took over

Nossob –bread and rosterkoek can be ordered again
wi-fi is available – it is working great but it is very expensive: R 40 for about 20 minutes
a leopard visited the waterhole in the evenings between 9 and 10 pm

improvements:
Urikaruus and Kieliekrankie got new tables and chairs on the stoep
Nossob and Grootkolk got new braais and Grootkolk new fridges as well
some minor additions as new braai tongues in most of the camps
the sighting boards went for repair but did not return until we left on 08.10.

sightings :
Sorry, ids are not confirmed yet –sightings and dates according to what I know

leopards:
at Nossob waterhole (04.10.) and North of Nossob (05.10.) – probably V-Nose
just South of Geinab – probably Rosa (26,09.)

cheetahs :
one cheetah at 14th borehole (30.09.) – Lisette?
three cheetahs at Kamfersboom (06.10.) – probably Top Cat Gang
Corinne and her four cubs (moving South) 700 metres South of Monro (08.10.)
another cheetah with two cubs (moving North)right in the middle between Montrose and Rooibrak (08.10.) – Hanri?
three cheetahs between Leeudril and Rooiputs (22.09.) – probably Kij Kij 3 Males
four cheetahs between Cubitje Quap and Kwang (03.10.)

lions:
Kwang pride (?) – around Bedinkt (24.09.)
mating pair at Unions End picnic site (25.09.)
lionesses with 14 cubs from Nossob to Marie se draai (03.10.)
lioness with a tiny cub just North of entrance to Marie se draai (05,10.)
two brothers at Grootkolk (27.09.)
single male at KTC turn-off (01.10.)
single male at Gemsbokplein (01.10.) and maybe the same one at Monro (06.10.)
at Dalkeith (06.10.)

meerkats:
on Auob road right next to the lower dune road turn-off (only three)
on Nossob road about 5 k's South of Kij Kij (with young ones)

cape fox dens:
900 metres North of closed Urikaruus waterhole
just South of Kij Kij between the main rod and the road to Rooiputs
Charlie Fax has a mate O:V

Re: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park General Information

Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 11:49 am
by Mel
I'll have to add the following:


Rain
The park is very dry at the moment and in urgent need of some good rains. There has been the odd spell of it over the last two weeks but by far not enough to start the greening process. In fact, not a single springbok lamb could be seen whereas there were hundreds of them last year already at the start of October. Now, if the lambing is indeed a sign of oncoming rain, it doesn't look all to well for the park at the moment...

Waterholes
One might think that because of the lack of rain it's obvious that the waterholes - or some of them dry up as well, but at least some of the empty troughs were dry due to mechanical problems. Dalkeith seems to be a real problem. It is on and off functioning and there is talk that a completely new borehole will / must be drilled as the current one does not do its job as it is supposed to do. Between 29 and 31 October 2014 apart from Dalkeith Sitzas and 14th were dried up. Between 4 and 7 November 2014 Dalkeith and 14th were functional again. Kamqua seems to have been dry when we were on the Auob side (29 to 31 October and 4 to 7 November), Gemsbokplein had little to no water between 29 to 31 October and on the Nossob side Union's End was out of water for the whole time we were there (27 and 28 October and 1 to 4 November). Cheleka was dry on 27 October and on 1 November, probably the whole time inbetween as well.

Shops
It seems all shops are regularly close for almost a whole day due to stock taking. Mata-Mata and Nossob were one day each throughout our holidays. The signs said that the shops were closed until 3pm, but I would hold my breath for them really opening again after that...

Fuel
Nossob was without fuel on the 5 and 6 November 2014. When we left the park on the 7th two fuel trucks were headed towards the park. But judging by the location where we saw them and the time of the day they were on route, it's a safe assumption that there won't have been any fuel before yesterday.

Dens and others
Cape Fox den 8.7 km south of turn off from Urikaruus (riverbed side)
Cape Fox den 1 km north of turn off from Urikaruus (riverbed side)
Cape Fox den between Kamqua and Auchter where you can drive around that tree to get a look into the riverbed. Den entrance right next to the road.
Spotted Eagle Owl nest 100 metres south of Montrose in the rocks on the right.
Spotted Eagle Owl with pretty grown chicks in that big tree on the left where you can drive underneath between Leeuwdril and Rooiputs.
Nesting Gabar Goshawks in a tree 7 km south of turn off from Urikaruus (right hand side) - one of them is a melanistic!

Safran and her cub were seen on 23 or 24 October 2014 around 8 am at Lijersdraai.
We found fresh big and small leopard spoors on the loop leading around Lijers on the 2 November 2014 but not the cats themselves.

Fresh leopard tracks with one bigger set and at least one smaller set were regularly seen at Union's End waterhole between 29 and 31 October 2014.
We found those tracks moving southwards on the 3 November 2014. They were lost after about 4 km from the waterhole.
Franco thinks this might be Rosa as he hasn't seen her drinking for quite some time at Grootkolk. I hope, we'll somehow get a report on that leopard
with her cub(s) soon since I assume that they will show up at Grootkolk soon as that's the most northerly waterhole working at the moment.

Kham was seen in the evening of the 31 October 2014 at Grootkolk waterhole.

Barolong and here cub were seen on the 28 October 2014 and the 2 November 2014 at Urikaruus waterhole.

The mega lion nursery (5 lionesses with a total of 13 cubs which must be all the same age range) on the Nossob side seems to be moving north currently.
When we first arrived in the park there was talk that they had been seen at Marie se Draai, but later one they were seen at close to Rooikop and Nossob waterhole.

Too many lions in general anyway :twisted: lol

Re: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park General Information

Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 12:01 pm
by Lisbeth
The general impression is that maintenance has worsened. No petrol, no water and shops closed 0*\ It is not like Kruger that you can take a quick drive outside the park and get new supply :evil:

Re: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park General Information

Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2014 9:40 pm
by nan
^Q^ to see Safan and Mildy 0/0

Re: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park General Information

Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2014 10:10 pm
by Mel
It wasn't me though, nan. It was Rob :twisted:

Welcome back 0/0