SANParks.org Forums

We have a new guide who has joined us at Karoo National Park - Jansen Botha - so you can look forward to more regular updates on sightings in the Park.

Here is what Jansen has to say, with some photos:

Game in the park is easier to view early in the mornings. Leaving when the gate opens at 6am is the best time to see a wide variety of game. The lions are doing very well and are in very good condition. All seven lions were seen by tourists yesterday (10th of March) and Kamkwa and the 3 young females were seen on the 8th of March on a guided morning drive.

The Nuweveld, Kookfontein and Sandrivier 4x4 routes are in good condition. The Afsaal route has been affected by the rain but is still in good driving condition as a grade 2 4x4 route.
The fossil trail is still being upgraded but can be done unguided and is readable. The reeds of the bird hide have been chopped down so the visibility has increased when birding. The Bird hide is open and all hikes are available - they just need to be booked at the reception.

The night drives have also delivered some great nocturnal sightings. Lately we've been seeing Aardvark, Aardwolf, Porcupine and even African Wildcat.

Excellent!Thank you!

The latest from Jansen:

On the 15th and 16th of march on the guided walks - which you can do for free, by the way! - there were some great sighting of the Verraux's (black) Eagles. The sightings on the 15th were very close to the hikers as they were sitting on the cliffs right next to the trail.

On the 16th, a pair of Eagles was circling above the Pointers peak as the group reached the peak. We are starting to see the Black Eagles more regularly around the rest camp as the confirmation of sightings over the last week has increased. So it seems that its not just the lions that are adjusting well to the Karoo but also our Verraux's Eagle population. We hope to see even more of them as the time goes on.

Photos taken by Piet Heymans:

in flight


nest building


here you can see the white markings on the back that give the eagle its Afrikaans name "witkruis arend" - white cross eagle

Good photos Piet! I still have to see them that well....

Oh wow, fantastic photos, thank you for sharing.

Thank you Addo Elephant, Jansen Botha and Piet Heymans !

Great sightings !

Thank you for posting Addo Elephant. Great pics Piet Heymans. Nice to know the Eagles are seen more regularly.

Thank you Jansen.

Any sign of the lions?


Free guided walks. On my next visit I will make use of it.

Awesome stuff, Addo Elephant.

Karoo NP just needs a champion to post pics on the forum to lure visitor to it, like is happening at Augrabies thanks to the excellent work by AG there.

The champion has arrived!

Another topic to open every now and than with great expectation! Superb!!!!

Disappointing ! - no feedback of any sightings by Karoo's new guide, Jansen Botha, as promised by Megan on 12 March 2012.

What about our visitors to the park ? (I know Stoffel will be there as from today and he has his laptop with him !) Jansen, please post some feedback on a regular basis which will be much appreciated.

Len

Visited the park during week of the 7th May and sightings were limited to the more "available" animals - no Lions or Rhinos (despite trying very hard to see them!). Animals seen included Klipspringer, Kudu, Gemsbok, Red Hartebeest, Mountain Reedbuck, Bat Eared Foxes, Eland, Ostrich, limited amounts of Springbok?!, Baboon, Verreaux's (Black) Eagle, Rock Kestrel, African Harrier-Hawk and several other varieties of birds, Steenbok, some magnificent specimens of both Zebra varities, mating Puff Adders.

Unfortunately our one and only night drive turned out to be a a let down. Other than a few sleeping Gemsbok, glimpse of a Genet tail, mouse and a Cape Hare all we really experienced was the cold of the night!

Two issues....
- Something which I find a little strange is the fact that "Hyena Traps" are listed as special points of interest but no Hyenas exist in the park! I would have thought that as they naturally occured in the area they would have been re-introduced?
- I cannot understand why some of the farm houses that exist in the North, on some of the 4x4 loops, have not been converted into self catering accomodation. This might also explain why the animals in the North of the park are very skittish when vehicles approach.

Will be interested to know what the outcome of the census count taking place is.

For those that have not visited, it is well worth a visit and we will certainly be back.

Photos of puff adders mating that I omitted from my post.

Welcome to the forum Jacani.

Thanks for the pics of 'slithering love'.

Karoo NP is a lovely place to visit, but most of us just drive past on a mission elsewhere.

I agree with your suggestion about the farm houses. Maybe it is to do with logistics.

Great sequence of the puffies, Jacani!