SANParks.org Forums

15th September

After two colorful days in Addo we arrive at Graaff-Reinet at noon.
Soon we are on the way to the Valley of Desolation.
A very friendly gate guard hands out the informative visitors map of Camdeboo National Park.
We arrive at the Toposcope and enjoy a wonderful view over Graaff-Reinet with Spandaukop.




Graaff-Reinet


Spandaukop




Graaff-Reinet and the Game area at Nqweba Dam

These views are marvelous!

We drive to the parking of the Valley of Desolation viewpoints.
It is very stormy and there are no eagles in the air today.
Close to the parking we see a very good camouflaged lizard.
You really need to have a closer look.



This is the view on our way to the first viewpoint



These viewpoints provide panoramic views of the wonderful Karoo landscape, but it is so stormy today.
I am afraid to be blown away when taking my pictures, SO secures me by holding me at my belt.









These views are exclusive for us. There are no other visitors in the stormy heights.
We leave the stormy rim and walk back through the rocky area to our car.






__________________
Reports 2011

KNP:The leopard's tale
MZNP:Magic Mountain Zebra
Addo:Addo Flower Power
Camdeboo:Wuthering Heights

On our way down to the valley we see a kudu browsing.



Down in the valley near Ribbokberg picnic site there are again a lot of colors.





We decide to return to Graaff Reinet, the spotless clean town will celebrate the Karoo-lus Festival
the next day.
No chance to resist a very delicious German Cheese Cake and Filter coffee.
I wish I could find such a lovely cake in Germany.

After a walk through the town we are on the way to the Game Area.
During our last visit to Camdeboo in 2008 the Game Area was under construction.
So this will be our first visit to the area close to the Nqweba Dam.
We enter the Game Area from the R63 to Murraysburg.

__________________
Reports 2011

KNP:The leopard's tale
MZNP:Magic Mountain Zebra
Addo:Addo Flower Power
Camdeboo:Wuthering Heights

We register at the gate and enter the park.
Right behind the gate we see this buffalo warning sign.
A thorny warning.



The grass is very high and there are no buffalos around.
The area is very quiet, the springboks are far away.



We watch an ostrich walking in the deep grass.



Suddenly this Blue Crane appears ...



and a second Blue Crane arrives through the air.



They continue together.



The park provides more wide views. We watch a herd of Black Wildebeests.



These ostrichs walk in front of a nice scene, the background shows a view of Spandaukop.



There are far away blesboks and springboks, the grass is really very high.



Maybe there are a lot more animals which currently hide in this deep ocean of grass.

At the end of our loop we arrive at a quiet waterhole, there is enough water available in the park.
The viewpoints at the water are closed, there recently must have been heavy rain falls.

Look over there! Suricates!



This nice little fellow watches the scene and warns his companion.



Soon it appears in the deep protective grass.



Cute little fellows!


__________________
Reports 2011

KNP:The leopard's tale
MZNP:Magic Mountain Zebra
Addo:Addo Flower Power
Camdeboo:Wuthering Heights

Soon we are on the way to the Bird Hide named Khwalimanzi Hide.
The vistors map handed out at the gate is really very informative and gives good orientation.
What is this?
The gravel road leads into a river, continues at the other side ... no bridge.
We watch other visitors arriving at the river, but nobody took the road through the river.
Everybody turns around.
No answer to the question "How deep is the water?".

We decide to drive back to the gate where we entered the park.
In the deep grass we see two big ears, a very alert Bat-Eared Fox is looking for prey.





Even in the deep grass we can see the big ears very well.



At the other side of the bush we detect another Bat-Eared Fox.



Funny guys, but they always look like caught in the act.





You can see the wind in the fur of the Bat-Eared Fox.



They sure can hear extremly good with these big ears.



Not far away we see our little cute suricates again.
They moved to the other side of the road.

First they hide in the grass ...



but later we see one of them standing guard







When we are close to the gate we watch two buffalos disappearing into the bush.





This was a wonderful visit to the Camdeboo Game Area.
We sure will visit it again when we are back to Graaff Reinet next time.

__________________
Reports 2011

KNP:The leopard's tale
MZNP:Magic Mountain Zebra
Addo:Addo Flower Power
Camdeboo:Wuthering Heights