We drove all the way around Etosha on the main roads to arrived at Onguma Private Nature Reserve mid-afternoon on 11th April. Onguma lies just outside Namutoni Gate in eastern Etosha National Park. It is a lovely campsite with great restaurant at a waterhole. The cost is the same as the shoddy & very poor facilities inside the park at Namutoni.
Our very nice campsite at Onguma.
Sunset overlooking the waterhole
with a Negroni in hand!
We spent the afternoon setting up camp & then retired to the bar overlooking the waterhole. A very nice way to end the day.
Everywhere was flooded!
The pan looked fantastic!
Never seen it looking like this before.
Female & young Elephants
Red Hartebeest
Warthog
Male Macoa Duck
Lesser Moorhen
Adult
Young bird
Wood Sandpiper
Kittlitz's Sand Plover
Purple Roller
Lilac-breasted Roller
Desert Cisticola
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting
Me & Markus
Erica & Markus joined us for the celebration
The restaurant.
Today was my 70th birthday! I made it! I suppose I am now considered to be old? However, I don't feel old. My illness has slowed me down a bit & the sword of Damocles' still hangs above my head. But I am determined to live everyday as it comes. It is two years now since my diagnosis & only 50% of people reach this stage. Unfortunately only 30% of patients make it to three years, so if this is to be my last year, I hope to make it a good one!
Bull Elephant
An arty shot of a Blue Wildebeest.
South African Shelduck
Cape Teal with young.
Common Greenshank
Wood Sandpiper
Bronze-winged Courser
Kori Bustard
African Grey Hornbill
Lilac-breasted Roller
Marico Flycatcher
The `13th so us back in the park driving some short circuits. It was a beautiful morning & we still couldn't get over the green environment.
Crested Francolin in camp.
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
Southern Red-billed Hornbill
The afternoon was spent back in Onguma, myself watching sport & Delana around the pool!
Dik-Dik
If you move slowly & carefully, one can often
obtain superb, close up views of this species.
Just around the corner we came across
Banded Mongoose.
We left Onguma early on 14th April for a drive into Etosha, but while we were still in the nature reserve we came across these Dik-Diks by the roadside.Then we bumped into a group of Banded Mongoose.
It was a truly magical scene!
It doesn't get much better than this!
Dusky Lark: an uncommon & nomadic species.
Not great photos, as this bird was
at extreme long range.
We decided to drop in at Klein Namutoni waterhole as the light was fantastic for photography & we were not disappointed! A herd of Giraffe were at the waterhole as well as a lone Dusky Lark.
It was a great day to be outside!
The entire landscape was a brilliant combination
of bright blue & green.
The entire area was full of great habitat for nesting
water birds!
Lesser Flamingoes.
Around 90 birds were in this flock.
Great White Pelican.
Glossy Ibis.
Black-necked Grebe
Around 15 pairs were breeding on the flooded pan.
Two chicks on her back.
Red-billed Duck
Black-winged Stilt
Several pairs were nesting.
Pied Avocet
This channel held several pairs of
Little Grebes breeding.
Adult feeding chick.
Swainson's Francolin
This male was calling from
the termite mound.
Burchell's Sandgrouse
Male
Female
Southern Ant-eater Chat
We then decided to slowly drive around Fischer's Pan, which was full of water & the rest of the day was all about superb scenery & great birding. For once in Etosha mammals took a back seat.
The ending of a super birding day.
Driving on the edge of the pan.
It was another wonderful day.
Blue Wildebeest.
Gemsbok
Elephant
Nice breeding herd enjoying the mud!
Pale Chanting Goshawk
Rufous naped Lark singing.
Onkoshi Camp
The view!
Enjoying the day!
Feeling good today!
African roadblock!
Namutoni Fort.
Namutoni Camp is also situated here.
A nice surprise!
Just received my new UK driving licence
valid until I am 74 years old!
This had been a fabulous trip to Etosha. Seeing the park after the heavy rains was new to us & we loved it! Till the next time......
The 15th April saw us driving along the edge of the pan & visiting Onkoshi Camp. This is a great little place, perched right on the edge of Etosha Pan. We weren't staying here but did enjoy a nice late breakfast there.
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