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Karoo National Park Activity Sightings

Lennie Senior
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 7:47 pm
Posts: 23
Location: Brackenfell, Western Cape

Sun May 20, 2012 5:16 pm

Thank you Jacani - lovely to get some feedback from this wonderful park !

Len

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Re: Karoo National Park Activity Sightings

Haupie
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:09 pm
Posts: 297
Location: East London, South Africa

Sun May 20, 2012 7:04 pm

I would be sooo blessed to see a live puffy and you seem so disappointed with your sightings JACANI. You have been sooo blessed

Re: Karoo National Park Activity Sightings

Addo Elephant
Guru
Joined: Wed Nov 24, 2004 4:15 pm
Posts: 821

Fri May 25, 2012 12:47 pm

Wow, fantastic puffadder photos, Jacani :thumbs_up:

I've never seen anything like this captured on film.

Jacani wrote

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.

There would definitely have been brown hyena in the area....and watch this space for news of this in the future....that's all I'm saying for now
Regarding farmhouses, there is one house which was converted and is being used - Embizweni Cottage on the 4x4 Nuweveld trail. With other houses, we need to think about logisitics of servicing these as well as funding for the renovations but there might some developments in the future.
The census counts have not yet been confirmed as figures are still being collated, but there have been increases in the numbers of antelope such as springbok, gemsbok and eland.

Re: Karoo National Park Activity Sightings

Stoffel
Junior Virtual Ranger
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 4:51 pm
Posts: 513
Location: Kleinmond, Western Cape

Mon May 28, 2012 5:55 pm

Addo Elephant wrote

The census counts have not yet been confirmed as figures are still being collated, but there have been increases in the numbers of antelope such as springbok, gemsbok and eland.

My personal observations (obviously not scientific) seems to show an increase in zebra numbers (both species) in the park. Gemsbok numbers surely increased and I have the same supposition regarding red hartebeest. Although we saw more springbok on the western plains side of Potlekkertjie Loop during our recent visit, numbers still appear to be low compared to a number of years ago.

My perceptions are only based on the small part of the park that one can see when travelling Potlekkertjie and Lammertjiesleegte. I know for a fact that the klipspringer population is very healthy in and on top of Klipspringers Pass.

Re: Karoo National Park Activity Sightings

VisOog
Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2011 4:01 pm
Posts: 6
Location: Boulders; Simons Town

Sun Jun 17, 2012 10:58 am

Great to read about Lions in the Park, and certainly this adds to the list of reasons to visit this Park - I get that it can be difficult to spot Lions, but I'm always so pleased when i hear them call at night

. Is there any chance of hearing the call of Lions when staying in the campsite?

Re: Karoo National Park Activity Sightings

lion queen
Forum Assistant
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2009 5:03 pm
Posts: 6511
Location: Upington RSA

Tue Jun 26, 2012 11:14 am

We were there this weekend and got some lion spoor near Kookfontein...........but never saw the lions..

From what we've been told the lions are now split up and the three young lionesses on their own.

Just have to go back and search more.......... :whistle:

Re: Karoo National Park Activity Sightings

Addo Elephant
Guru
Joined: Wed Nov 24, 2004 4:15 pm
Posts: 821

Thu Jun 28, 2012 8:51 am

Here's the latest from Jansen Botha, field guide at the Park:

Last night (27/06/2012) I and Nicky Jooste went on 2 night drives which were the coldest I have ever been on.

To my surprise we had quite a goodnight. On the first drive we had 2 sightings of Aardwolf and a sighting of the African wildcat. The 2 second drive started out with nothing and close to the end of the drive we spotted an Aardvark and what made this special is that the Aardvark became curious of the vehicle and came closer to inspect what this thing was. We ended with the Aardvark right next to the vehicle.

Re: Karoo National Park Activity Sightings

lion queen
Forum Assistant
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2009 5:03 pm
Posts: 6511
Location: Upington RSA

Thu Jun 28, 2012 8:54 am

That's wonderful!!!!

Re: Karoo National Park Activity Sightings

threedogs
Virtual Ranger
Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:20 am
Posts: 1142

Thu Jun 28, 2012 8:56 am

WOW! That must have been an incredible experience! :dance:

Re: Karoo National Park Activity Sightings

J.Botha
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 9:00 am
Posts: 10
Location: Karoo National park

Fri Jul 13, 2012 8:14 am

The first confirmed sighting of the Fisk's house snake in Karoo National Park :dance:

The snake was spotted on a night drive during April but Johan Marais confirmed it a couple of days ago that this is the Fisk's House snake.

Re: Karoo National Park Activity Sightings

picnic
Senior Virtual Ranger
Joined: Fri Mar 02, 2012 11:08 am
Posts: 4076

Fri Jul 13, 2012 9:46 am

Nice pics Jansen. :thumbs_up:

Any signs of the lions yet? :hmz:

Re: Karoo National Park Activity Sightings

J.Botha
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 9:00 am
Posts: 10
Location: Karoo National park

Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:18 am

Hi Picnic

Bitterbal and Nossob was spotted yesterday (13/7/2012) by tourist close to the Afsaal hut but due to the cold front the 4X4 trail was closed at 10am and will remain close till futher notice.

Re: Karoo National Park Activity Sightings

J.Botha
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 9:00 am
Posts: 10
Location: Karoo National park

Wed Jul 18, 2012 11:24 am

After the cold front this weekend (13/07/2012 - 15/07/2012) we got this photo's from the tourists that spent the weekend at Embizweni.

Thank you Charles and Shannagh de Villiers for the photo's