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Day 8 Grootkolk - Nossob 22. April 2008

This morning we took our time to have a cosy breakfast at the sunny patio. Next time we come here, we will spend at least 2 days at Grootkolk.

First sightings soon after we have left the camp have been 2 Bat-eared Foxes. Unfortunately once again a little bit too far off the road and with grass too high for decent photos. Anyway it was a nice sighting. We wondered why we have seen them during this trip for several times in the park, while in March 2007 we had not seen even one.



Speaking about high grass, here is a pic of some Hartebeests in middle of a ocean of wavy grass. It is not really a good photo, but an example of how the unusual rich vegetation was sometimes spoiling the view as well as the pics – and this although we had a heigh clearance vehicle, it must been even worse with a Sedan. On the other side, there was plenty of game and predators around due to the surplus of food and water, so overall we do not consider it as a disadvantage to come here during or soon after a exceptional good rainy season. As a fact, we have seen much more animals, especially lions and cheetahs as we did last year during a very poor rainy season.



Here a funny Gemsbock sighting




Closed to Kannaguas we found this fellow and his friend a few meters further away. Good thing lions are just as nosey like little house cats. If they had not raised their head anytime they heared a car coming by, one would not have seen them while they laid all the way down in the grass.



The Nossob waterhole was visited from Gemsbock and Wildebeests.

There was a board at reception showing the previous days temperatures, as they were lowest minus! 9 degrees, highest +19 degrees. After looking for a campsite, we went to the shop to replenish our stocks. Oh great, they had wolly hats, exactly what we needed to have for such cold evenings. We also bought a nice pack of meat for our braai. Only when we had already left the shop, we have noticed this was lamb. And we do not like lamb, because of where we live it has a kind of strange taste (which is our personal opinion, some people do like it). So what to do now – take it back and get something else, or just give it a try – maybe the Kalahari lamb does taste better than their relatives in old Europe? We decided to give it a try.

Little later we went around to take fotos from the animals inside the camp.
First we went over to Dreamer’s unit to see the Giant Spotted Eagle Owl next to their door.



maybe someone can help to identify this one?



The Ground Squirrels always so funny to watch




Around 4.00 PM we went to Marie se Draai for our afternoon game drive. As for birding we have seen a Kori Bastard close by and this black-breasted Snake Eagle not too far from the road.



There wasn’t much game around, soon we should see the reason why:

This couple was not moving much at all when we got there. After about 15 minutes she got up to lie down right next to him. He must have thought this was a invitation to mate her…..



but she told him different……



the visibly intimidated male did pay her respect…and only screamed his love pain into the wideness of the Kalahari.



We have stayed with them for about another hour. No more attempt for mating, or any other activity. Once again it was time for us to return to the camp.


SO did light up our campfire and soon the lamb steaks have been on our plates. What shall we say, they did taste delicious! What a shame, it took us 5 times to travel to Southern Africa until we tasted this wonderful meat.

Some more very good sightings

Think your MARTIAL EAGLE is a Black Breasted Snake Eagle

Good photograph however


Steve

okay, there we go....

Day 9 Nossob - Bitterpan 23. April 2008

Before driving to Bitterpan we went for a short Game Drive to Marie se Gaat.
The lion couple from yesterday has now moved closed to the waterhole, but almost at the other side of the riverbed – too far for us to take decent pics. We have stayed there for a while to see if they would come to drink. Nothing happened, so we decided to return to Nossob.

But THEN….a Ostrich family with 9 chicks came towards the waterhole. The parents have not noticed the lions at this time. Guess we should stay a bit longer




But the lions have seen the Ostrichs!



Now everything got fast. The Ostrich parents finally noticed the danger, while both lions were running after the chicks. The lioness got out of our sight, only far away we could see how the Ostrich parents were beating their wings in panic.

We just caught a glimpse of the male lion carrying a chicken in his mouth, before he lied beneath a tree. Please excuse the quality of this pics, sun at the wrong side and grass to high, I just show them to support the story.



Nothing interesting to see anymore, so now we can return to Nossob.

We got as far as to the next bend, when this mom with her cubs came walking right towards us.






It was only a very short, but fantastic sighting. Should I mention that after they continued their way in the riverbed, the grass was to high for some more decent photos? Yes, I mention it, so you don’t ask for more

Nothing else was from now on “interrupting” our way to the Nossob reception and from there to Bitterpan.
The trail out there was most likely easy to drive, it took us about 2,5 hrs to get there. Some people must been driving up the dunes too slow and as a result of this got stocked, the spoors they have left, made it a bit uncomfortable to drive over this dune ridges for those who followed – but we made it without any problems.


Only the scenic view on the trail was not really what we had expected. We have seen a whole lot of nothing, but this is our opinion only, others may find it well worth seeing. For us the official dune roads, especially the one in the south gives one a lot more beautiful scenic views.

We only took the short detour to one of the waterholes along the route, but there was not water. Very sad to see the broken parts of the waterpump laying around.

Bitterpan itself is a very special location and the accommodation also very nice. Each unit has a sleeping room with balcony and on the other side of the floor the toilet and shower room. You can't cook in your unit. The Guests have to share the big communal kitchen in between units 2 and 3. We fully enjoyed being out there. It was very relaxing to spend the whole afternoon in our cabin, just reading a book and now and than looking at the pan for some animals. We also found some very nice neighbours at Bitterpan. There was a younger couple from UK and a family of parents, grandparents and a sweet little angel from SA. All of us had braai together and chatted around the campfire for a long time on this evening.

Many thanks to Wanda, Ingrid, TheJackel, Anne-Marie and Jock for the friendly comments.

And special thank to Ingrid and Anne-Marie for for our team. Both of you have done a great job

In regard to Bitterpan: Yes, 4x4 is required to go out there, however we did not need the 4x4 gear actually. But this may be different from time to time. Go alone? Just make sure you drive out their as early as possible, which is at 09.00 AM, this way you will mostlikely have someone following you in case you need help.

The last instalment is done as well and waiting to get posted. Only problem is I won't be home for the next couple of days, not sure whether I will have internet access away of home.
So please be patient, posting will be done as soon as I have a chance.

Wow, this lion cubs are soooo cute
We stayed in Bitterpan some years before and enjoyed it very much - this camp is something special. Going there alone, Anne-Marie, in my opinion is not a problem: you will most definitely meet people there and find someone to talk to (the communal kitchen...) and there is a tourism assistant on duty.

Thank you, AD, for bringing back lots of happy memories !

Day 10 Bitterpan – Mata Mata 24. April 2008

Our neighbours told us this morning about a lion roaring late at night. We have slept so well, that we did not hear anything.

Bitterpan at 08.00 AM




After breakfeast we took the the Moravet route, which was also a easy going. It was a quiet drive without any special sightings.

Soon after we turned into the Auob road, this Mole Snake? crossed our way. She/he was moving really fast.



This Secretary Bird was posing for us real nice



And another Snake crossed our way. Would appreciate if someone can help to identify this one. We have seen this kind for 2-3 times in the park.




While we got closer towards Mata Mata we have seen huge herds of Springbocks and Oryx.
Suddenly they started to run for their life. As much as we looked around, we could not see what has frightened them so much.




For most of the afternoon we stayed at the campsite. There was a big herd of Wildebeests right in front us, just beautiful to watch them.

During the afternoon game drive, we have spent a lot of time near where Cheetah mom and cub have been hiding. But today they gave us a no-show.

Our last evening began. We have met with the couple from Nossob again, and had a nice chat about the recent days. One good thing was, it was not as cold anymore as it was at Nossob, so we could really enjoy this last evening in KTP with nice company and billions of stars above us. No doubt, that we will try hard to come here again.

KTP gave us so much this time, we will never forget and are thankful for having the chance to see all that.



LEAVING - Mata Mata to Namibia - 25 April 2008

We went for a last, short drive before we left KTP at the Mata Mata boarder.

It was either at Craig Lockhart or Dalkeith where we have seen some cars parking. But what are they looking at? Oh, there is one leg stredged out at the dune ridge. And this leg belonged to a lion. We waited for a while, hoping he would at least raise his head. To make it short, he did not move an inch. We wanted to drive to the end of the loop and than go back to Mata Mata. Maybe 100-200 m further there was another lion, he layed closer to the road and at least we could see a bit more of him.



It took us a few minutes till we noticed there was another lion a bit further away and well hidden. Great chance for fantastic sightings for those who could stay with them.

But now was definitely time for us to leave this fantastic place. Bye-bye KTP hope to come back here soon.