Kalahari Reflections March 2014*

[GavinW]

Day 4: March 8


We woke up all expectant to meet our rowdy neighbours as soon as it became light, but unfortunately they didn’t want to
co-operate.


We searched the road down towards the lodge as well as the road to the waterhole, but they were probably somewhere in-between and not visible. Our neighbours in no 3 were also the same mission and had a similar result, which made us feel a bit better.

We did get an amazing sunrise as compensation



We decided to head north up to Lijersdraai as we had not been that far north for quite a while.
Lijersdaraai produced these Rooi Hartebeest




as well as these little fluff balls (scaly feathered finches)



We carried on and as we stopped for a break at Kannaguas we heard the familiar sound of a lonely lion.

We followed the sound and managed to get a far off glimpse of the king calling his subjects:
“Where is my food????”

[Flutterby]

Never been to KTP but looks much greener than I would expect!

[Mel]

Don't get fooled, Flutts. It usually doesn't look anything like that in the dry months.

[GavinW]

This trip was about my 10th to the park, and the first in March, and I must admit I have never seen the park as green as this. along with the yellow, white and purple flowers it was stunning. And then the grey/cloudy skies and rainbows just added to it's beauty.

The "Reflections" part of the trip are still to come after a bit (or a lot) of rain

[GavinW]

March 8 continued


The lion disappeared over a dune headed in what we thought was a northerly direction, so we slowly pressed on north towards Grootkolk, hoping to see him reappear over a rise.

No luck though, which was a bit frustrating as we could still hear him roaring.

Seemed to be a day of elusive lions!!


After a while we had had enough and turned around to head back south.

At Kannaguass, we came across a large herd of springbok, which was really nice to see.




In between Kanngauss and Lijersdraai, we saw these two lazy guys parked off under a tree.




They were quite obscured by bushes and by this time of the day, they were certainly not going anywhere, so we carried on the way back to Polentswa.

We have often had really nice bird sightings at the Polentswa waterhole, as raptors in particular are attracted by its sweet water
Today was to be one of those days.

Lappet faced vultures





A Tawney eagle



Juvenile and adult Bateleurs







These two



And this Rooi Hartebeest all made an appearance at various stages over the hour or so we sat there before we returned to camp for a short break.

[GavinW]

That evening ;

Ok so I am tired of saying day x continued so here goes…..


We had a short break at camp and then decided to go back to the waterhole….. How boring are we???

Well not the worst decision all around, at least we had the comings and goings of the local birdlife to appreciate


We had this stunning viewing of a Lanner falcon coming down to drink and then taking off again when harassed by another.







They were busy trying to capture their supper, but the doves all went home to their nests safely that night



I must admit, I have NEVER seen the Kgalagadi so green as we did this trip

Then Debs got this stunning pic of a tawny in flight
(So proud of her!!)



That’s the one thing about being in the Kgalagadi, even if you don’t see the big cats and dogs, there is always something else going on.
Every year we take up a book bag with books and mags we intend reading during the “quiet” moments in the park, and every year we bring back a book bag of unread books (except the raptour guide!) Don’t know why we bother, and we say that every year!

After a while the wind started picking up quite drastically as a thunderstorm approached from the south.
Along with the wind, a spattering of rain was enough to send us packing back to camp to see if all was still intact ….

We didn’t get too far before we were stopped in our tracks by this view….







Wow Wow Wow……. How amazing is that?

Arriving back at no 2 Polentswa, we noticed that a visitor was thankfully just leaving…




Another Polentswa sunset and braai,




That night we slept through a heavy thunderstorm and heard no lions.


Tomorrow Kwang

[Flutterby]

Nice raptor sightings.

[GavinW]

Day 5: March 9 A trip to Kwang and back


Today, we had decided the previous evening, we would head south to Kwang to see what lay in store for us there.

We had heard about a pride of lions with cubs in the area, and were hoping to spot them.

We let camp early at 6.30 as the “gates” opened, as a new Kalahari day dawned.



The 40 or so kilometres down to Kwang proved to be pretty uneventful, with even Bedinkt being quiet, which was a little disappointing as we had seen brown hyeanas there in the morning before on previous trips.

It’s funny how you re live previous sightings when in the park, kind of expecting to see the same again. But then nothing is ever the same. The Kgalagadi is ALWAYS different, that’s why we keep going back, and that’s what a lot of our friends don’t understand when we are asked why we don’t go anywhere else!!


I did get this shot of a PCG leaving a tree!




It’s only about 25kms from Nossob to Kwang, and when we eventually arrived there, we found a traffic jam!!!



The Kwang brothers were parked off at the Kwang waterhole parking area along with about six or seven cars up from Nossob







We were lucky enough to be able to get into a pretty nice spot , and even luckier when the brothers decided to come down to the waterhole and have a drink, when we found ourselves in a prime viewing position. (Almost as if I could have read the lions minds)

We both got some pretty awesome pics of the duo as they returned after having quenched their thirsts.









Having finished drinking, the brothers walked past us and on over the western dunes and out of sight

[Bushveld Jock]

Hi GavinW,

I've just caught up with your trip report. Those Kwang lions also entertained us a lot last Dec, so great to see that you also found them. Maries can be strange and often nothing followed by amazing sighting. Great captures of the lions and Kgalagadi landscapes.

I was wondering if there were any predators between Melkvlei and Dikbaardskolk, because the best we got were gemsbok and wildebeest.

[GavinW]

March 9: The River Up To Grootkolk:



Because we were due to head down south again the next day, we decided to turn around and head back north for the rest of the day.


We trundled our way back up to Polentswa and along the way we came across the following usual suspects before arriving back at the waterhole.


A weaver trying his best to make wifie happy



Some testosterone loaded gemsbok




Another family of Kalahari Kentucky




When we eventually arrived back at Polentswa it was about 1 .30 pm, and getting pretty hot, and the locals were pitching up to get their midday pint.








We watched the procession for an hour or so and decided to make the most of where we were and to head further north.


I did mention that it was mid day and getting hot.
We should have saved the petrol.
We have no photos of this particular afternoon (Only Videos) so we saw pretty much zip.

Except for this chap crossing the road



However, what we did experience were flooded roads as we got up towards Grootkolk. The puddles, no, pools of water were pretty deep and fairly long, up to 800m at times. I drove up (not without stress, white knuckles and a lot of prayer) and after a while, when we reached a particularly long flooded section we decided to turn around. That is when survival clicks in and you hand the keys to your SO, which I duly did.
I had lots of fun videoing her as she negotiated the road I had already come up, but unfortunately, the language is unsuitable for a family forum, so you will need to use your imagination…. Sorry!!

We got about halfway back when we met up with enrico and his SO on their way up to Grootkolk.
(we had met them the previous day but I forget where )

He was also extremely nervous of the pools of water, but with our best wishes he pressed on.

We eventually got back to camp that evening and enjoyed our last evening at Polentswa.

A stunning sunset, braai, a stunning days sightings and with my BBF… Who could ask for more