Hey everyone ------Took shorthand notes while we were up there so I tidied them up a bit and am just going to post them here. Photos are very amateur by comparison to a lot on these boards but I am going to post some digital snapshots anyway.We did get some decent video as well but not of anything out of the ordinary and vid and stills footage of cats is all substandard really especially when compared to some of the stunning submissions on this forum. 35 mm spools arent scanned either I am afraid so trip notes and snapshots will have to do!! Needless to say myself my wife and 2 girls (8 and 3) all had a fantastic time.
Dept Thurs pm ----Supper @ Vanrhynsdorp.The lions are circling...
Day 1 Fri---Very very quiet roads ITO cars and trucks. Very busy wildlife.
Avoided 1 small kudu ewe and 4 bat eared fox and 2 hares between Calvinia and TR gate.
Most stuff on ultra quiet Brandvlei stretch.290 kms without passing one moving vehicle!.
Only 1 hit possibly a pearl spotted owl 30 kms from the gate around 5am ...Heartbreaking start .Went back to look but couldnt find it.I know its a long shot but I really hope it was just stunned but ok.
Arrived TR just before 6pm Kids slept whole way. Brekkie at TR restaurant very welcome
Auob riverbed busy as usual with a lot of the usual suspects.Loads of sec bird and pale chanting goshawk.Very nice.
Nice to see giraffe looking in such fantastic condition too.Saw big old leopard totroise which R loved,batearfox,pygmy falcon,tawny eagle,ST bee-eaters, Namaqua
doves, Kori Bustard,forktailed Drongo, Lanner,ostrich, BB Jackal, Hartebees springbokkies, gemsbok etc ...all the regulars out in force.Great to be back.
Arrived MataMata 12.30.Road good all way.Campsite spaced and quietish about half full when we got in. No activity at hide besides ground squirrels.Building at the gate end of campsite seemed relatively unobtrusive.Storm clouds huge cumulonimbus but no rain and only distant flashes of lightning over to the north east.Prepared for some wind and water but it didnt come.Grass fine in most Auob places but very thick in patches mostly higher up.Wouldnt be able to tell if there was pride 10 metres back in places.Unreal.
Starving...Ribs+wors for supper.Been awake for what seems like forever and even though we did shift driving have slept properly for I think just over 1 hr.Am bushed beyond comprehension but completely electrified to be back.5 yrs has been much too long .
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Day 2 Sat ---A slow start after a lot of screeching in night. Major politics between one on other side of the riverbed and one in campsite trees. Asked around.Nobody seemed interested! Had to be barn owls though. Never heard it before.Big brekkie on skottel. Small owl in hide but R and E disturbed it and they told me it flew away just before I walked in.Possibly one of the BarnOwls?
Saw giraffe carcass on drive out from prev sat lion kill.Must have been a treat right next to the road.Neck left and skull off about 10m away.Lots sercretary birds again.Great to watch them hunting for stuff.Pair Crimson br shrike .WN vulturesX2. Nice steenbokkie on big dune rd.Also some grass snake moving too quickly for ID and fat gemsbok at Moravet. Too many tsamma melons...
Vultures riding up a thermal column just after Kaspersedraai .Very fast moving started low got high really quickly so almost certainly not a kill.Maybe 30 birds? Impressive.Road pretty good to Ok the whole way. Campsite no 3 at Nossob. Thought most sites taken but on later inspection it turns out there were a few around.I think some people hedge their bets or keep their options open and pay for the site but then end up not using it.So they say theyre all taken but theyre def not all used. And no real way for parks to tell if theyll be taken up or not.As long as its not a problem somwhere and Parks get the revenue and its not a case of them standing empty when they could be used....
Great pool. Wasnt there last time.Kids thought it was fantastic even if the water was about 12 deg C!!They didnt care.
Short drive and saw a Gymnogene late pm which was very unusual.
Bibrons geckon in tree at campsite just sat there for kids who thought it was great.
Clear crisp night.Stars insane. Very cold and very happy to be back at Nossob again.
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Day 3 Sun-----Loooooooooong night.Kept up by what sounded like a brute male lion from around 1 pm till 3.30 with accompanying LPS Lion Positioning System( jackal choir).He was very close at one stage.
Quick drive out south of Marie Draai had at least 15 whitenecked vultures!
Also Bataleur and Tawny eagle.Back 4 brekkie and up to Cuibit Q .5 lion enormous matriarch and 2 big males and 2 normal sized lionesses on loop side of rd. All looked full prob from reported kill 2 days previous? Never seen a lioness that big.Stunning.Must almost certainly be from Ousus genetic stock. She had a massive head and very long body. Absolutely stunning.The 2 big males were also prime specimens but she was something else. Wish I had a better camera.Got some ok vid at least not that they were doing much!
Slow afternoon fixing tent zip which popped. Been giving trouble since MM.Pretty good tent given good service and it looked like a sturdy zip
Sealed up front and took out mozzie net from rear window as new door!Better than new I think as door is quite high and doesnt matter so much for the crawlies if u leave it open.
Great Slender mongoose resident. Kids had a blast watching him scrunching toktokkies and stuff.They made a few improvements to house for ground squirrels too! Stairs furniture etc
Late dr MS Draai. Not much bit rushed/ Had only few vultures left and standard odds and ends.Some moron spoiled afternoon a bit giving the receptionist all the blame for him not being told by Twee Rivieren staff
that the petrol sales close 15 mins before gate does because he obviously had plans for an early getaway.She kept her cool and dignity
though and was a model of customer service despite his misplaced anger.And all credit to her for that.Always some moron with a big head...
2 jackals in hide with girls who were very quiet ---proud of E esp.There was nothing there when we arrived and she was convinced they
came because SHE was quiet so after 15 mins or so we left while we were ahead!!
Stars insane .. again.. esp with binocs.Very cold again.
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Day 4 Mon---Another long night. Big male again from 330 to 530 with another joining in at 5 ish from far away.Went to hide and heard them a few times close one was by then off to south maybe half a km away and the other was a good way away to the east over the rise looking out from the hide.Amazing just how far sound travels when it is that quiet.
Drove up to Polentswa turnoff. Pretty Unevevntful. Nice birds but nothing unusual.Also whistling rats striped mice ground-agamas.
Sat at Bedinkt for about an hour. Was great. Long performance from 3 black crows with their musical voices.Very entertaining.
Also Wildebeest dustbath( prime alpha male) and some low grade gemsbok politics.
Lilac Br Roller and Bataleur too.Also juvenile mole snake on road. Road not too bad despite reports to contrary. Corrugated in places and a bit deep but was much worse 5 years back.
Moved to number 10 from number 3 campsite.Very happy.Did slow afternoon at pool with girls terrorising the 2 resident frogs Had to retrieve one that did a trip down the weir bypass valve into basket!
Late afternoon drive down Marie se draai with Bat eared fox and just south of the loop rejoining the main road we saw a
large male kudu moving off to the NE which was nice. Was a first inside KTP .Still loads of vultures and secretary birds.
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Day 5 Tues----No lions so slept till 4.30 Quick hide check ( u never know) and slept till 7.
Big slow skottel brekkie again.Went through to Cheleka and sat under the tree for a while.Just gemsbok but magic spot to just sit.If they were scarcer,people would probably spend a lot more time appreciating just how amazing they are.
Pair lion just off main road at Cheleka. Youngish Male poss 4 yrs plus lioness.No more than 7 meters off rd (prob closer to 5) but if they hadnt been very kindly pointed out to us(Thanks to white CJ reg Isuzu!) we might very well have not spotted them.
Bush and grass pretty thickand they were very well hidden. Sure brings out the worst in people.
It got up to about 6 or 7 vehicles on top of one another at end and it was only ourselves and one other that didnt have anyone hanging out their vehicle or standing outside on running boards or standing on a wound down window. UNBELIEVABLE. Dont want to be a doomsayer but its an accident waiting to happen. Not if. Just when.If she wants to, a lioness will cover that distance in about 2 seconds flat. Literally.And why should she lose her life and almost certainly be put down when she finally loses patience with this idiotic mindset and attacks some moron? These people belong in a Darwin Awards book.If it came down to it,I would happily trade one of their lives to spare hers.
Down to Dibaardskolk and then back up again. Sat all on our own with the lions again for about another 30 mins which was great Lioness got up, growled at the male who snarled back but promptly vacated the spot he had been lying on and went and stood behind for a few minutes while she took up his spot.Knows where his buck is buttered LOL.He then lay down behind her and that was it for the show for the day.We left them after a couple cars arrrived in quick succession.
On way back saw 4 ostrich plus 15 odd chicks at Kasperdaraai.There was some major politics between the adults though. 3 males and one female with the female staying with the brood. The other 2 males in running battles with the third male but the apparent outsider kept coming back for more.Mixed chick sizes though was I think the only clue to what was going on .About half the chicks were markedly bigger than the others (about double size)and my guess is that the smaller chicks possibly joined up with the other brood in error? The persistent male might have been trying to recover them? Best guess I could come up with so need someone in the know with alternative possible explanations as to why there would be 2 differing sizes in one group....
1.5 metre mole snake having a sniff around and then disappearing into hole. Waited for a bit but he was off looking for lunch Some type of sand snake too (or poss skaapsteker?)
Also enquired about dead cheetah from Nossob waterhole 5 or 6 weeks back but they are still awaiting DNA results and no further info was forthcoming.
More fun at pool in pm. A group had a leopard lounging in a tree right next to road north of Leijerdraai so we decided to go up next day.
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Day 6 Wed---Quiet night except some jackals over in west behind camp.Birthday today. Took a drive up to Unions End.Young porcupine scurrying away from a train of 4 cars before Cubit Q at first light but he couldnt get up steep embankment.It panicked quite badly.The roads really are deep as well as grass being high and thick.He just couldnt get up.Eventually up and off into scrub.Otherwise very quiet drive.
Lots of lion spoor between Langklaas and Bedinkt and saw them later on way back down. A report of pair Ratel and also a leopard and her cub at Geinab waterhole but they apparently left quickly after being surprised. we were there 10 minutes after.....Saw bat eared fox and had a snack and opened pressies and cards at the picnic spot short of Unions End. It was great.Very spoiled.
Girls not feeling good so we came back earlyish without spending too much time at waterholes. Toilets at Lijerdraai picnic spot
nothing short of a disaster. People are refusing to use them and as a result there is toilet paper strewn around out back.Girls very
unimpressed.Needs to be sorted.There are enough low impact designs. Pressure on that one specifically is high so they must sort something out.
This is in stark contrast to the perfect ablutions at Dikbaardskolk where admittedly they have water , but still.....
2 big males betwn Lanklaas and Bedinkdt and got a good view of the one standing up. Also about 10 metres back off road.Brute.Size of a house. Lay down again before camera out ....More morons out cars.Left after less than 2 minutes.
Swam and sat up at pool for rest of afternoon had nice steak supper. Banished to hide by M and R...Mysterious..Saw 2 jackal at hide with E again.Very happy girl.Now firmly believes they arrive when she is quiet.Also a dikkop..sorry ...err..thicknee with a gecko sans tail.He wasnt falling for that one. Got back to streamers balloons party hats and a twinkie cake fireball! Great day and wouldnt have wanted to spend it anywhere else or with anyone else Thank you XXX
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Day 7 Thurs---Drove up to Cubit Q and down to Maries se draai. Saw black chested snake eagle just north of N. Beautiful bird.Regal.
Also saw 3 tawny eagles btwn Marie Se Draai and Kaspersdraai. Nothing unusual in south ,
MarieSD in the pm saw first youngish Martial with his bright yellow eyes who has nest in second big tree down from waterhole. Dropped whatever
he was eating shortly after takeoff. Think we disturbed him even though we were 25 metres away.Thought we were quiet enough.
Also 2 crimson brsd shrike pairs Std vultures and secretary birds further south. Saw adult tawny eating a snake about 1 km south of waterhole which was good.
Back at the pool in the pm. Great time with kids. Found small drowned scorpion.Good to show E theyre not just made up to make her wear boots!
Quiet night and a lot warmer.Stars not nearly as clear as colder nights but tonight, a fair tradeoff.
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Day8 Fri---Last full day...
7am start to Geinab area to try find leopard with cub sighted twice in the week.No luck though on that count.Did the loop north of Lijersdraai lots of bat eared fox. Nice little road. Feels much more immersed with the narrow road.Saw 4 or 5 cheetah between Lijersdraai and Kannagauss but they were practicing hiding and pouncing in long grass so werent sure of numbers.
And then a real treat a young caracal hunting mice and rats in the road embankment.Very nice! We were very quiet and got a great view
before it took off .Even had a second bite at the cherry when we crept up to where it left the road and it was still sitting there about 4 metres off.About half the adult size so not sure if mom was still around or if it was on its own.What a beautiful cat.
Tawny again and juvenile martial plus bataleur flicking in some high speed tight turns.Short drive south in pm but very little around besides some gemsbok politics at MarieSD waterhole with wildebeest and springbok.
Board showed leopard south of Lanklaas and one at Urikasruus.R proudly did magnet for Rooikat on board.Cheetahs already up though.She was V happy anyway.Last night in park so everyone a bit subdued...Packed up pantry and stores tent and most of other stuff
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Day 9 Sat---woke 4.30! for Dpt 7 am.1st out heading south after shower and brekkie and rest of packing.Parked up at 6.40 so sat in
hide for a bit with girls and watched horizon getting light.
Quietish am but then lots of lionspoor south of Dikbaardskolk.Saw 2 cheetah fairly close to road about 25 kms south of DBKolk between Kameelsleep and Jan se draai. Real treat. They looked in fantastic condition too.They sat for about 10 mins and then suddenly made their way over the bed up the dune and gone.Also huge eland herd and another martial.Lots of spoor at various spots on road but no lion.
Toilets at Melkvlei shocking. As bad as Lijersdraai if not worse because theyre supposed to have water.Park management need to be careful.
Its a terrible advert.It lowers the whole mood to have to walk in on that.Gents and Ladies same. Staff are busting a gut and doing
a GREAT job .....and then it gets spoiled by that as a lasting impression. All the good work undone.
3 Beaut black korhaan near Kij Kamies.Also a real specimen of a male ostrich.In his prime.
R did the cheetah magnet on the TR board.V happy again.End of another special Nossob trip.Sad to leave. Despite concerns about girls they did fantastically. We saw just about everything exept ratel and leopard. Ratel next time then and the leopards will hopefully find us sometime too.
Augrabies late afternoon. Falls half full or so and good to see again.
Campsite plagued by baboon even very late in the day when they would normally be settling for the night.Lots of thorns. Had to quarantine tent and shoes to avoid 3 different types of thorn invading the lawn at home!
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Day 10 Sun--- Had great brekkie at Augrabies restaurant.Really good.Got going and took nice little dirt rd from Kakamas to Kenhardt.
Also did the R364 through Botterkloof pass and on to Pakhuis pass. Great road through rooibosland but it took a really long time because of the roadworks and tarring.Got jammed behind a couple of big trucks.Hard to say how much it added on but if you like the scenery, its worth it. If you are interested
in keeping your journey as short as possible, go Vanrhyns pass and N7 I reckon. It also looks like they will still be busy for a while there.
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And lastly a quick snap of the original Ipod....
Thats it. Hope u enjoyed it. Any questions just shout.
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