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So we had a week booked in KTP in Aug.....and had been planning the trip for months. We packed up and left on friday morning after work and stayed over in Kimberley. The next morning we headed out towards Upington bright and early......and came to a grinding halt 100km short of Upington .... car temperature heading towards the red. So after a few phone calls to a certain organisation that is supposed to help members in this situation.....and we were still stuck on the side of the road......with somewhere to be and no way to get there

So we decided to limp into Upington and take the car staight to the dealership workshop. After a thermostat change....we were on the road again!!!! Although we knew we weren't going to make our booking at Mata Mata....we thought we could just see what was available at Twee Rivieren when we got there.

After an uneventful 270km to the gate.....we were relieved to sign in and take a de-stressing deep breath of KTP air

And there was a chalet available at Kieliekrankie so we grabbed it and jumped into the car and headed off to the game viewing area.......and as we go through the gate......and the car temperture guage starts to climb .......

Decision time....do we take our chances.....and drive watching the temperature guage all the time.....or do we drive back to Upington, dump the car (possibly in the Orange River......frustration levels a bit high at this stage ) and get a rental car.......

So we decide that since we have come this far.....we may as well enjoy our trip and watch animals and not the temperature guage......so we stayed at Twee Rivieren...............and drove back to Upington the next morning..................................................................................................................................we hadn't even put a tyre thread past the entrance gates.....and we were heading back to Upington

My first sunrise at KTP this trip.....on the way back to Upington....

Thanks for all the comments!!! And sorry for the long break!!

So the Sun morning found us packed up and on our way back to Upington The car over heated twice on the way back down meaning more delays while we waited for it to cool down, pour water over it etc etc......but finally we made it to Upington. We had decided to hire a car and make the best of the rest of the holiday....the main problem was with the car overheating every 100km or so.....getting back to JHB was going to be interesting ......Anyway, to cut along story short, the only car available was a Polo Vivo ....we had to fit all our camping equipment crammed into a Toyota Prado into a POLO VIVO!!!!!! Eish !

It felt like we were back at varsity at one of those cram days...."how many students can you fit into an Uno??"......how much camping gear can you fit into a Vivo.....when you have a canvas tent, gazebo, fridge, stretchers.......Oy! Needless to say some gear remained behing in the Prado.....that included our chairs and table.....so the fridge and cooler box became our chairs for the next week and the back of the Vivo our table!!

Anyway, on with KTP......our return journey was much quicker and smoother.....and we pulled up to the entrance at TR.......jam-packed, much to the amusement of the gate guy, who had seen us leave a few hours earlier . We hit the road up to Nossob, glad to be in the park.....at last!


The initial stretch on the now opened-TR-Nossob-road-that-actually-belongs-to-Botswana was quite quiet but we too the time to relax and unwind after the trials and tribulations of the previous few days! We had just gone past Kij Kij, and I was actually telling SO about Durbyl, a cheetah who lived somewhere around Melkvlei, when something odd popped up out of the grass.....SSSSSTTTTOOOOPPPPP!!!





Mom glanced warily around and then headed to the road so we switched off and waited....





And then the little ones followed her. They were quite nervous....although one of the cubs had a glance at our car before crossing over....



The other little cub circled a little closer, but wasn't too sure of things.....



And then joined the other cub and moved off after Mom into the east.

Not too sure of who this little family was.....anyone got any ideas? I have emailed the Mills and am waiting for a reply.

We continued our journey up to Nossob.....but being just after midday, things were a little quiet....but we did see one of my all time favorites....



As well as a super secretary bird....



And a little lizard relaxing in the sun....



To be cont....

Sorry again for the long break!!! And thank you for all the comments!!

So we reached the turn off to Marie's Draai and noticed so movement in the distance....



Kudu's!!!

We have only seen them at the Grootkolk waterhole before so this was a great surprise! We turned onto Maries and a little further on noticed another Kudu....this time an older male....



The rest of Marie's was quiet.....as it normally is with us!!

We reached Rooikop with the sun going down on our 1 st day in KTP.....



We pulled into Nossob....found a camping site and set up our tent in the dark.....not too eager to find out what we had left behind in the Toyota ......but we had all the necessities.....but .....no yellow ribbon....left in the breakfast basket which we couldn't fit in....


We pretty much collapsed that night, didn't hear a thing....but were up bright and early the next morning, ready to hit the road north. Once up and out of bed.....noticed it was a bit chilly......multiple layers of clothes were thrown on....into the car with heater on.....in the queue at the gate .....chattinf to the couple behind us....who were very amused to see us challenging KTP in a Vivo.....their 4x4 had a temperature guage......-7

The gates opened and we headed north....a few km down the road.....



Another one of my 'must sees' for KTP....Spotted Eagle Owl!

Near Bedinkt this little guy (maybe girl?) was ewas enjoying his/her breakfast....



We continued up to Polentswa, were a lone Springbok was wandering around and then we turned back for home...



Near Lanklaas we noticed some movement through the LONG grass next to the road.....Eland!!!! ....long grass, short car, long grass, short car, long grass, short car....



Any way, they were very jumpy and soon disappeared into the distance.

We continued south and before Bedinkt saw a small bakkie (LDV) parked on the side of the road....the people obviously saw us in their mirror and started to wave their arms out the window.... .....what have they seen??/....so we approached sloly.....trying to see over the grass.....which was particularly long at this point.....

To be cont.....

Thanks again for the comments!

So yes....the car that had stopped up ahead......we pulled up slowly......trying to see through the grass......well we actually didn't need to look through the grass, or even over the grass.....we actually just needed to look up......




........

What more could you ask for?

The camera buzzed, clicked and fired away! She was very alert and looking in all directions. We pulled up next to the car in front and had a chat to the 2 ladies ....the leopard had crossed the road in front of them as they came around the corner.....they thought they had then lost her as they were also in a smaller car (Corsa bakkie) but then she promptly climbed the tree!!!

We sat there.....at midday.....watching a leopard in a tree

She changed positions a couple of times....



And so did we.....






The midday lighting wasnt the best but no one was complaining!



The whole time she was up the tree.....not one other vehicle joined us....amazing!





Eventually she got tired of our company, and climbed down the tree. We thought that was the end of the show....but we decided to drive back a bit and see if we could se her moving through the river bed......we did eventually spot her again.....veeeerrrryyyyy far away in a tree......a typical pic of a leopard in her KTP habitat....



Well satisfied.....we carried on back to Nossob for lunch.....just seeing this Egret close to Nossob camp....



To be cont.....

So later that afternoon, we decided to go out on another drive, this time heading south around Maries and then turning around and returning to Cubitjie Quap.

On the way south we came across one of the most celebrated sightings in KTP.....



Maries was very quiet, except for our - for this trip - regular friends......



Some thing in a bush also caught our eyes.....



Too cute!!

Back up at Cubitjie....a Crimson beasted Boubou was doing the rounds....



We decided to settle in at Cubitjie for the rest of the afternoon.....and just see what wanders past. There local feathered patrons were around....







Across the car park, a bateleur was taking it easy in one of the trees....



And then later a very "silver" BBJ wandered up to the waterhole....he was also very nervous and kept on scanning the area very thoroughly....



But then he settled down for a drink....behind a rock.....of course





And so our day came to an end, and we made our way back to Nossob



.....for a delicious braai under the full hazy moon....



To be cont....

Once again sorry for the long break!! and thanks for all the comments!

The next morning we decided to head north again......it was very quiet until somewhere north of Kousant....where we came across a parked Fortuner.....and then we noticed some fur in a bush...



We much neck craning, moving backwards and forwards....this was the best view we could get. So we settled in and had our coffee....and the fur in the bush disappeared.....no doubt had fallen asleep!

So we continued on our journey north.....and had our brunch at Leijersdraai.....



Our trusty steed with its yellow ribbon (a cut up Woolworths packet - recycling!)

We decided to turn round and head home.....approaching the area where we had seen the fur in the bush...there was a lump in the road....





Yay!!!! we could see him now ......quite well actually.....



Roly-poly.....





Just had to post this pic.....a fly had crawled up his left nostril.....I could just imagine how tickelish that was!!!!!



Anyway.....we left him in his kalahari kingdom had continued south....



Later that afternoon we headed around Maries.....and once again came across a male kudu.....



After supper that night, we made our way down to the hide, and sat there for a while.....a little later, we had a visit from some bat eared foxes!!!



After a good nights sleep, we were up bright and earlt to pack up and jam the car full again...as we were moving to Mata Mata. With the suspension creeking we pulled up to the gate as it was opening, collected our permit and made our way south. After a few hundered meters, one of the 4x4#s came hurtling back towards camp and indicated out the window that we should continue

Well we continued and came across a 4 car traffic jam.....some thing moving in the bushes to our left...



To be cont.....