Kgalagadi 2025 – At World’s End

[Cape of Storms]

Karin, you’ve turned the KTP into your personal catwalk! From that "good morning, human" Spotted Eagle Owl at your feet to the AWC’s "how did you even spot me?" stare—this is the kind of luck that makes the rest of us check our lottery tickets.

That cheetah’s belly says "buffet champion", while the BBJs and hyena drama ! But the real showstopper? The AWC. Those eyes!

Already strapped in for the next episode.

[Karin Mitton]

Good start to the morning
We have not seen a AWC in the wild for some time Well spotted
An Eagle-Owl at your feet

RichardJ, thanks. The AWC was such a cool sighting. The Owl sitting so close to me was really special.

Moths scorpion and beetle find
Do like of the hyena BBJ and BWB in the same frame
AWC -well spotted
And then cheetah as well
Lanner s in flight
Thanks Karin

The Lanners were great colbol. I thought that would be the best sighting, but the Lanners on this trip would be spectacular.

Catching up your TR
It seems next time I should go with you not just before you
What an amazing first morning with superb sunrise colouring lions with perfect light
Cape fox den
Your timing did get better and better during the morning - I could put any day to my wall the together deinking photo
Vlei lilies are so beautiful
To have Spotted Eagle Owl as a morning friend
I love so much the hyena surrounded by greens watching BBJs photo

To this day I am still amazed that I saw it.

That was super well spotted AWC
Thank you Karin so much for sharing your trip and these amazing photos with story telling

Thanks FinMari, my first day and a bit in LTP were spectacular. And so much more was waiting for me!

[Karin Mitton]

What a lovely morning drive you had...
Alway's nice to see an AWC Well spotted
Cheetah tummy... must been a good meal

kids@camping, thanks. Those two cats certainly made my day!

Super episode with stunning image ......

Thank you Jan van Wyk!

Oh wow, wow, wow your first two days have been a whole trip's worth of cat sightings! That first set of photos in the early morning sunshine of that female and then the black maned male are just spectacular and to have them juxtaposed against the fresh growth and even flowers in the desert is pure magic! Huge congrats on finding those young foxes, love your hyena photos, such great lighting and composition and of course that superb martial eagle shot. Love the cheetah and wildcat so many great photos and you are only just getting started. Oh and it wouldn't be a Karin TR without your great macro shots of scorpions and other nighttime denizens around camp.

Thanks jjames04. Yes, super sightings on my first couple of days. But stay tuned, the Park was not done giving!

[Karin Mitton]

Definitely very well spotted on the AWC and what a cutie
Incredible moth shot and it is always amazing when shotting cheetah especially with such a huge belly
Love the hyena and jackal shots as well
Thanks so much, Karin

Pumbaa, there were thousands of moths and butterflies in the Park. It was very cool.

It must have been so interesting to watch the BBJs. Great action shots.
The banded mongoose is a real cutie. I am sure he/she was happy to move away.
at the AWC and cheetah. I agree, what a belly.
Fabulous Kori image. Stunning detail.

Meandering Mouse, it was such a surprise to see the Banded Mongoose. I knew you got some of the other species in the Park, but did not expect this guy!

Had to play catch up. What a lovely report. Great pics illustrating readable text. A treat. You certainly got your share of lions!

Pete

Thanks Pete. More and more lions to come!!

Karin, you’ve turned the KTP into your personal catwalk! From that "good morning, human" Spotted Eagle Owl at your feet to the AWC’s "how did you even spot me?" stare—this is the kind of luck that makes the rest of us check our lottery tickets.
That cheetah’s belly says "buffet champion", while the BBJs and hyena drama ! But the real showstopper? The AWC. Those eyes!
Already strapped in for the next episode.

Cape of Storms, I certainly had my share of lovely sightings. Owls are always cool. And the AWC was such a lucky sighting, I was so thrilled.

[Karin Mitton]

On the way back a beautiful Black-chested Snake Eagle was soaring in the sky above. A cute little Ground Agama dashed across the road.
Just before Rooikop I saw the cutest, brand new baby Springbokkie. It would run a little, then lie down again. It was super cute to see.





A Blue Wildebeest and Gemsbok were drinking together at Rooikop before each went his own way.

[Karin Mitton]

I spent some time in the hide. I watched a Blue Wildebeest some distance to the left of the hide as he slowly approached, walking from shady spot to shady spot. He did not come for a drink but started grunting while looking to the far left of the hide. I saw some Wildebeest and Springbok and realised that he must be calling to his friends. Slowly they started making their way to the waterhole, the Springbokkies leading the way. The Springbokkies reached the waterhole first and a few came for a drink.



The Blue Wildebeest met up with his family and chaos erupted. There was galloping and running, and even the babies joined in.









The Springbokkies scattered but came back for a drink when the dust settled.

A Lanner Falcon came swooping over the hide and caught something, but unfortunately for those of us in the hide he went to eat it behind the bush where we could not see him.

[Karin Mitton]

For my afternoon drive I drove to Kwang. It would turn out to be a few of the best hours of the trip. The birds at the waterhole were incredible. There was a Secretary Bird, Vultures, Tawny Eagles and many, many Lanner Falcons. The Vultures sat next to the waterhole for a while before flying off.





The Secretary Bird came closer. I liked the various species together.





A beautiful pale form Tawny Eagle came for a drink.



But it was the Lanner Falcons that entertained the most.



They were either hunting birds or feeding on termites on the ground, but the action was endless.



I got a new camera at the end of last year and was still learning, and had hoped that my trip to KTP would give me an opportunity to practice birds in flight. These Lanner falcons presented the perfect opportunity to practice.





I spent about 2 hours at the waterhole and loved every second!





My camping neighbours arrived just as I was about to leave and told me about a lion just a few 100m north of the waterhole. I went to have a look quickly. It was not the best sighting as the lion was lying flat on the other side of the river, but any lion sighting is better than no lion sighting!

On the way back I stopped at Cubitje Quap for a few minutes and photographed some doves.

[RichardJ]

Great pics, looks like you have the BIFs sorted.

Wish I could sort out mine....

[FinMari]

Awwwww, super cute springbok

Excellent photo of Gemsbok and Blue Wildebeest together

Dusty galloping BWBs

Perfect birding captured @ Kwang

Flat lion is still a lion

Thank you Karin for sharing

[Jan van Wyk]

Superb images and great sightings all around .......

....stunning BIF shots .....

Thank you for sharing ......

[kids@camping]

Awesome sightings of different birds at Kwang...

Birdlife are just great at Kwang & QC

your photo's are just

What did you buy? With what lens are you using it with....
I'm looking to buy a faster lens... mine are quite "slow"

[colbol]

Baby springbok and wildebeest - lucky you

Birders paradise at the waterhole so many species visiting

Lanners coming into land photos

Thanks Karin

[gannet]

beautiful scene of the Blue Wildebeest and Gemsbok drinking at Rooikop + the Lanner inflight shots
super photos

[Meandering Mouse]

I love your baby bokkie, and wildie so cute.

How lovely to see so many vultures. The image of the Secratary bird and Vulturs gives a wonderful perspective.

The pale Tawny landing is so pleasing to the eye. Great landing shot.

Well done on your Lanner shots. You seem to have an excellent camera. There is such sharpness and detail.

[pnm]

Your lanner pics are excellent! Make me jealous. I just can't get them in the focus spot for long enough!

Pete