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Happy New Year everyone!!!

So we had the opportunity to visit KTP early in Dec..... .....unfortunately I haven't had a chance to do a proper TR.....and so I will be doing a camp-by-camp highlights package.


1st Camp : Urikaruus

One of our absolute favorite camps.....the view and the area are outstanding! Even though the floor boards creeeeek like a horror movie!!!! Unfortunately while we were there the waterhole was very quiet......probably something to do with the fact that the other Urikaruus waterhole to the north had quite a bit if water in it....there always seemed to be animals around there. But as always we had some fantastic sightings.......so without further ado........our time at Urikaruus produced.......



- seen north of Urikaruus

- a couple of ladies at 13th - the one had a clip cut out of the ear ?? markings???



- and this little guy was in a tree on 13th

And now tiny pic acts up again.....will try post again just now

Ok....so lets try again!!!!

We initially only stayed at Urikaruus for one night.....to return later in the trip for another 2 nights.

During our second stay there we took a drive up to Craig Lockhart......and were sitting there watching the pigeons come down to drink, when one suddenly one looked like it fell into the water.....a bit strange? ....it was flopping around in the water, struggling to get out......it really was quite heart wrenching......and then we saw what was the cause of the problem......



If you look closely you will see a terrapins head......it appeared that the terrapin had pulled the pigeon in and drowned it!!!!!! Don't know if thats right but thats what it looked like?

Later on the drive back we came across this little fellow......



He looked a little forlorn.......and together with Marius we decided he had probably been recently kicked out by his mom and was now alone in the world Hope he is ok







To be cont.....

Thanks for all the fab replies!!!

Our exciting times from Urikaruus continued. Over the next couple of days we had some great sightings!! It started with the spotted hyena den.....the little guy was home all by himself the one morning....



On 14th Borehole, we came across 3 cheethas that appeared to have been in a bad arguement - or had been on the receiving end of a bad attack, the one was limping very badly. It had a nasty wound on its back leg....



The other cheetahs would walk a bit then wait for the badly injured one....





At Dalkeith, there was a pride of very well fed lions around the waterhole....in fact they had been around for a couple of days, we were told.

- Oy!!! Watch the tail!!



Brothers-in-Mischif


All the lying around was thirsty work!!!





Ahhhhh......the life......



To be cont....

Thanks again for the comments!

- Pumbaa: ....give me a time and a place........[size=85]although most of the time we have just been lucky to be in the right place at the right time!!![/size]

- PRWIN: Canon 100-400 and then hired a 600 that was quite a handful to hold, but great image quality!!

-Anne catherine: swallow tailed bee eater


Now unfort tinypic is up to no good - its taken me nearly 1 hour to load 1 pic.....so more tomorrow night.....just a last one of the lions at Dalkeith.....

Thanks again for the replies!

To cont....

During our time at Urikaruus, we came across a few dead springbok.....no predators, no cause of death visible.... . There is actually a thread under Arid Parks on the problem of the dying springbok....







Near Mata Mata we found this spotted eagle owl sitting merrily at the base of a camel thorn....



and a family of ostriches on 14th Borehole loop......the little chickens.....are......well.....ugly!!!! Shame!!!



That evening, the spotted hyenas were passed out outside their den.....when a very brave lizard wandered up.....



The following morning we headed up to the hyena den to see if they were up bright and early.......and they were......



We could see the little tyke was chewing on something, but we could just not make out what it was....



and then big brother came and moved it around.......a bat eared fox!!!!





and then it was time to be a typical big brother......





We sat with them for quite a while while they dragged the poor ex-battie around and then they settled down over the rise above the den.......so we carried on and came across a bat-eared fox family.....so cute!!!





To be cont....

Sorry for the long break - been bit hectic!

Now moving on......

Next stop Mata Mata:

The next 2 nights we spent at Mata Mata - the folks tried out the new huts while I tried out a camp site on the fence

We took many a drive down to the Boreholes.....on one of our first drives - we came across a beautiful lioness at 13th. We sat watching her drink and then she crossed over and took up residence in the shade. We were merrily watching the lioness in the shade...





when we noticed some movement behind the trees to the left of the waterhole.....mmmmmm.....must be another lion coming to drink......we could never have been more wrong!!!!!









While this was all taking place the lioness was sitting quietly in the shade on the other side of our vehicle.....which was blocking her view of the leopard (will post a video of this as proof......coz I know this sounds like one very long story!). But she soon caught a whiff of the leopard, and made her way around our car and was off after the leopard in a flash.....



To be cont.....

And the video....

Once again thanks for the comments!

So the rest of our sightings from Mata Mata included......



There were actually stacks of owls around which was brilliant......a trip to KTP without seeing owls would just feel strange!

We also came across this nest with owlets in, between Mata Mata and Sitzaz.....think they are spotted eagle owls.....but it was quite hard to see.....



This little fur ball was quietly sitting in the fork of the tree....



So the next camp we moved on to was Nossob.....coming soon.....

Thanks for the replies!

Nossob

The trip up to Nossob was relatively quiet, but as always, the waterhole of nossob was a welcome sight! That night had an awsome sighting at the waterhole.....see thread "what happens at Nosob when the lights go out"....

The next morning we headed up to Grootkolk.....on the way....



At Bedinkt, the jackals were having an early morning drink...



This one was an especially light one....



Once we returned to Nossob after our trip up to Grootkolk, we found these white faced owls in the tree near reception...



Between Cubitjie Quap and Kwang, this brute was tucking in....







Back at Cubitjie, the doves were coming in for their sundowners...



Early on our last morning we had some visitors to the waterhole....



Later that morning, the jackals were taking a bath at Maries....





And at Jan se Draai....



To be cont.....Grootkolk

Thanks again!!!

Grootkolk

We had stayed at Grootkolk for 1 night previously, and unfortunately it had not lived up to our expectations.....so we made our way there with open minds.

At Kannagauss there was a lanner having a drink....







So we arrived at Grootkolk, parked and while waiting for Franco to let us know which huts we were in we noticed something at the waterhole.....



And then the little ones wandered over to have a drink....



and mommy joined them....



some rough and tumble....



and daddy had a drink too.....get out of my way kid....



he really was a great looking specimen....



but his parental skills needed some work....



to be cont....

Thanks again for the comments!

The video of my night-time visit to the Nossob hide for those that didn't see it under the 'arid parks' thread......what happens at Nossob when the lights are out.....

Grootkolk

The Grootkolk welcoming committee....



Kamadejo - it was 7 Dec 2010.....we were there early Dec....but it looks like she is there quite oftern and under the 'Arid Parks' thread there was a comment/question as to whether this is the Twee Rivieren female that was relocated to the Nossob area due to her border raiding activities down south - so I am bout to load some stills under the Arid Parks thread to see if anyone can ID this leopard!!

Kamadejo - she only arrived at about 23h30 and the electricity was out already so don't think the cam was"watching"!

So after we had unpacked, with a wary eye on the visitors at the waterhole behind us, we decided to head north to Union's End......about 7km from the Grootkolk tuen off we came apon this distressing scene....









We later asked Franco what he made of this, and he said there was a male cheetah in the area that about a week prior had been badly injured on its back left flank - he said it was limping very badly and was not doing well at all. So he thought that this was probably that cheetah. Unfortunately we couldn't see its left side so couldn't confirm - but the loss of any cheetah is a dent in the conservation of this at risk predator.

The next morning we were greeted by an amazing KTP sunrise....



And not far from the Grootkolk turn off, a battie family....



They didn't hang around long, very jumpy, so we continued north. As we approached Union's End waterhole......"Dad, there is something drinking from the waterhole?!!!!!".......there was indeed!!!!





She also did not hang around long, and soon melted into the bush.....



We carried on and just as we went down the hill to rejoin the Nossob valley, we noticed movement next to the road.....









At Union's End we turned around and headed back to camp for brunch....on the way....



The jackals were tucking into the poor cheetah....



To be cont.....

Once again for the replies!!!

Grootkolk waterhole visitors.....





Later in the day, we found the lion family just south of the turn off.....



And there wasn't much left of the poor cheetah....



That night we had some visitors to the waterhole....



And a video I forgot the load earlier....the Union's End Leopardess..



To cont.....

Thanks again!!!

The next morning we once again had visitors to the waterhole......the 2 females from the prev night were back.....



Once we had packed up, we decided to head back up to Union's end one more time - on the way....



Just before Union's End picnic site.......something moving in the river bed....







Mom and 3 cubs



And then time to play......









To be cont....