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To be called an Angel is always a compliment

Heste ... a big warm welcome to the forum!!! can we badger you for the first !Xerry Wilderness Trail trip report??? we would love to hear about your experiences please, please, please,........ please

Thank you for all the words of welcome!

Okay a !Xerry Trail Trip Report…. This is my first trip report, and I’m new to the forum, so please tell me if I’m doing it wrong….

!Xerry Wilderniss Trail 15 – 17 September 2010 with the guides Melissa & Jan.

We were picked up from our camp site at Nossob the Wednesday morning. The 4x4 trip to !Xerry was the first bit of excitement. (Storming the dune, slowing down as you near the top, cruising down and then the next one….) Arriving at !Xerry after about 45 minutes we then set up camp. Pitching the tents and making our beds was about all we had to do. Then we all sat down in the shade (it was HOT you know, Kgalagadi in September…) and waited for it to cool down a little to go for our first walk. We did that at about 16:00, but we didn’t get very far because 1 of our group was not feeling well. Jan then went back to the camp to get the Land Rover and we all went back to Nossob to get some medicine for her. So there was no more walking on the first day, but we did have a lovely evening around the fire, having a braai and just relaxing, looking at the stars and listening to the night sounds

On Thursday morning we got up early for our walk, but our friend was still not feeling well so we had to take her back to Nossob and her sister decided to go back with her. So we packed up their stuff and once again we all got in the Land Rover to take them back to Nossob. As I said before, the drive is really exciting, and we saw a lot of steenbokkies on this trip. When we returned, we finally went on our first walk! We didn’t see a lot of game, but we did see a lot of the little stuff, that you don’t see from your car. This was also the closest we got to seeing lions. We didn’t see them, but we saw the cars that were seeing them! So close….

We spend the middle part (or the hottest part) of the day back in the camp. For this I recommend you take some reading material with you. Its really hot, and you get sleepy, but if your tent is not in the shade, its too hot to sleep, so a book will be very handy.

In the afternoon we went for another walk in a different direction from the morning. We went up one of the higher dunes for a really wonderful view of the Kalahari. Beautiful.

The evening was again spend around the fire, trading a few stories about our European experiences. At the end we agreed, there is no place like home!

On Friday morning we went for a final walk. Then, after 2 wonderful days, it was time to pack up and return to Nossob.

Although we didn’t see a lot of animals, it really didn’t matter. The expectation is always there, maybe over the next dune…. Definitely one to go on the to-do list of everyone who loves the Kalahari.

Thank you Heste

Heste - I should take such a walk into consideration for a future KTP trip - It sounds like heaven to discover the smaller stuff by foot

Thank you for telling us your adventures

I just got the feedback of the latest !Xerry Wilderness Trail:

Even that it was quite cold during the night (We are not complaining for this time of year). On the walks plenty of general game was sighted. small things such as snakes etc also showed themselfs.

On the last morning just before the guests went out on their morning walk they trailists had a suprise when a female lion came walking past the campsite's toilet and stop to stare at them

Other than that the trail went well and we had 7 very happy guests.

Hope to see you on the trail soon.

Jan , thanks and please keep us entertained on this thread !

Ndloti,

I will do my best (since I see you are from my hometown).

I will keep you updated on one condition.......I see you on a trail soon.

Two back to back trails and a few nights at Grootkolk or Gharagab to make the distance worthwhile .

J , we met at Orpen .

Nothing wrong with back to back trails

Orpen was many many moons ago, but some of the best memories came from that part of Kruger.

Now that sounds like a trip I could join. Add in Klipspringer in Augrabies and you're on

[quote]On the last morning just before the guests went out on their morning walk they trailists had a suprise when a female lion came walking past the campsite's toilet and stop to stare at them
[quote]


Okay I'm slightly jealous. Slightly.....

Heste,

It just means that you will have to come on the trail again

Hi Heste - thanks so much for telling us about your experiences on the trail I have been lurking on the forum as I can't post from work so have had to wait until today to post

Jannie, what a fantastic experience it must have been to have seen the lioness from so close and in here territor too!!!!

On the latest !Xerry trail;

The base camp was visited by leopard at night which was followed by Spotted Hayena (hanging around the campsite), Black backed jackal also found their way into the camp.

During the walks plenty general game was spotted and the odd lions roaring were heard as well.

The last !Xerry trail for the year was done (due to the heat the trail will only re-open 1 April 2011).

Plenty of general game and plenty suricates were seen. They have tracked a lion but the guests were all birders and therefore the aim of the trail was birding.

The odd Spotted Hayen did visit the camp site and lion tracks were found closeby.