Africa Wild

morning

ho ! sorry I thought it was you

we got big rain on Tuesday (mardi)... the road to Nossob was closed
we take the little one... from the Botswana side
Today still a lot of puddles

nan wrote:we got big rain on Tuesday (mardi)... the road to Nossob was closed

Where exactly?

Leeudrill to Rooiputs... the same like laste time, where I nearly finisehd under the water

A few observations from our trip (Sept/Oct. 2014):

Dry waterhole problems have been documented by others.

Mata Mata Riverside Chalet:

Minor details not given attention such as only 1 wine glass, NO serving spoon or even large (soup) spoons, no TV remote. An inventory while cleaning the rooms would be easy to spot these omissions.

We inquired at Registration and were told someone would take care of it by 6PM, but in the 5 days we stayed there no one ever came by or acknowledged our request. Not a big deal, so we decided to not pursue it, but a little more attention to detail and/or customer service would be nice.

Additionally, there was a huge hole in the braai grill, which we didn't notice in the dark, so one of our hamburgers fell through into the fire. (SO swore it was mine, so I had a vegan dinner that night.) Staff has to see this each time they clean it, I would think.

Nossob:
VERY run down, need new hot plates badly, as well as a general fix-up.

Water pressure problems may not be anyone's fault, nor even fixable, but we could not wash dishes or even use water to cook in the kitchen if the other one was taking a shower at the same time. (It got to be a joke between us because every time one of us got in the shower, the other one would suddenly show up to fetch water for something in the kitchen. )

Twee Rivieren Restaurant

First, let me say, we love to eat there just for the charming service people, alone, but this time we had a somewhat comical experience.

Can I get you something to drink this evening?
I'll have a glass of white wine.
We're out of white wine by the glass, sorry.
I'll have red then.
We're out of red wine by the glass too, sorry.
So….we HAVE to buy a whole bottle of white AND a whole bottle of red wine???
Yes.
Do you have champagne?
No, we're out, sorry.
Okay, we'll have a bottle of the Shiraz please.
We're out of the Shiraz, sorry.
What about the Cabernet?
Yes! We have that.

When our carpacchio arrived, it was accompanied by the statement, We're out of the parmesan for the carpacchio, sorry.
Not a big deal. When I reach for the black pepper, I see both shakers are Salt. Do I dare ask for pepper, or is that pushing it too far?

Are you out of black pepper?
No, no. I'll bring you some now.
Ah, simple pleasures…welcome to the bush.

I was then starting to question whether or not to order the steak, in fear they may be out of it by the piece, (sorry), as I have no idea how much the whole steer would set me back….

On the other hand: the laughs we shared were priceless!

Same old Nossob Same old sanparks
Written like that it's funny
But I would have gone through the roof

Ahhh, glad we order a white wine by the bottle instantly. Seems to have save us some hassle.

But the parmesan on the capriccio was still out a month later.

Will try Nossob water pressure as described next time.

The wine thing sounds familiar, much easier if you ask, what wine they have

Some updates from the KTP:

It is very dry, but there are springbok lambs to be seen everywhere in the park, so there is hope for some rain soon.
The strong winds also suggest this. But it was extremely hot, with most days going well into the 40ies. Only 3 mornings
when temps were in the low 20ies (and I must say, that I do understand the Saffies better now when they say they think
that this feels rather coolish - I wore a jumper on those mornings as well. You get used to that heat and freeze easierly.

Antelope activity is good in both riverbeds, but only in places.

Lions, leopards and cheetahs all over the place, but you need to be there at the right time. We missed quite a few cheetah
sightings just by a few minutes. Either because we had been two minutes to0 late or five too early.

Charlie Fax at Urikaruus has 3 puppies and I saw them on two mornings and one evening in the dunes on the right hand side of
the camp assistant's unit (when facing it) before some stupid German who couldn't watch them from his unit, went over into
the dunes to get a better photograph. Haven't seen the puppies again afterwards. Although Charlie and her hubby are
out and about every night.

There is a spotted hyena den opposite Kamqua waterhole. Has been there for some time now. But there is a very small puppy
at the moment. The adults still visit Uri waterhole every now and then.


Spotted Eagle Owls:
The nest in the ridge opposite Montrose waterhole (100 m south, where a big tree branches over the pad) - at least one very
young chick in there.

Another nest in the ridge about 1.2 kays south of the turn off at Gemsbokplein lookout point.

Another nest in a tree on your right when heading south about 100 m before the northern entrance of 14th waterhole loop.


Giant Eagle Owl:
The tree just outside Twee is active again, but the chick is pretty big already.

Regular sightings of another at Urikaruus waterhole.


Pearl Spotted Owlet:
In Mata Mata camp around campsite and riverside bungalows.


Meerkats:
Around riverside bungalows at Mata Mata, some smaller ones among them.

12.6 kays towards Union's End from Grootkolk turn off.

More south of Batulama, but had another exciting sighting so forgot to measure the exact distance.


Cape Fox dens:
About 300 m south of Batulama and then another about 2 kays down the road from there (5 little ones were reported from that den)


Wild Cat:
Regularly seen between 12 and 14 kays from Mata Mata.
North of 14th Borehole.


Lions:
The Houmoed lion gang and also in the area of Kannaguass new lions can be expected to be seen in about 5 to 6 months time.
The Kwang pack has grown to love the shade at the watertanks north of Kwang waterhole.

That's it for now, I guess. Will add more if I forgot something.

thank you, thank you