Etosha National Park: Namibia

The entrance to Etosha National Park.

Burchell's Zebra

It is very open out here.

Everything is in the shade.

Springbok

We drove north & entered Etosha National Park mid-afternoon on 15th January through the Andersson's  Gate. It was blisteringly hot! Saw a few plains game, before we got to the Okaukuejo Camp.

This Ellie was having a great time cooling off!

Mid afternoon was quite busy.

Springbok

Sociable Weaver

The campsite is a good one, but it is the splendid dam, that sets this spot apart from all the others.

There is a lot of space out here!

Very few people. Not a bit like Kruger!

Common Ostrich

At a high density in this habitat.

Kori Bustard

This bird was on a nest.

Zebras going to drink

Blue Wildebeast

Gemsbok

Okondeka Pan & look who is lurking there!

This is the pride featured on the 
BBC series The Hunt!

Taking it easy in the shade.

Adult Pale Chanting Goshawk

Immature

Double banded Courser

Reasonably common in these open habitats.

We set out on a late afternoon game drive to Okondeka Pan & back to camp via Leeubron Waterhole. It was an excellent introduction to this fabulous national park.

This male was with a female 

& three well grown cubs.

One of the half grown cubs

Dusk on the first day.

And then this happened!

We came across this group crossing the road, close to camp. What an ending to the day!

This is the habitat.

Female Northern Black Korhaan

Common in this habitat.

Male

Immature Pale Chanting Goshawk

Pygmy Falcon

Sabota Lark

Red capped Lark

Capped Wheatear

Gemsbok

Only a few days old!

A young Springbok

Black backed Jackal

A common species here.

Ground Squirrel

Up early on the 16th & it was brilliant weather, sunny but not too hot. The heat came a little later! We did an extended version of yesterday's circuit: Okondeka, across to Adamax & back via Leeubron Waterhole.

The Okaukuejo Waterhole at mid-day.

A very busy place!

Herd upon herd of Zebras came down to drink.

Small numbers of Gemsbok came down to drink.

Tom, having some downtime.

Another great sunset from he camp.

One of the great prizes in Etosha.

The afternoon didn't produce any sightings of note. But we did have a fine Black Rhino after dark!

It is very open habitat as one drives east. 

Kori Bustards are very common.

Abdim's Stork

A small flock of nine were feeding close to the road.

Caspian Plover

A scattered flock of 35 birds & several individuals

 were in full summer plumage.

Non breeding plumage.

Black Crow on a nest.

Enjoying themselves in the heat of the day.

Steenbok

Common here.

The 17th was another excellent day. dawn saw us driving east towards Halili Camp, our home for the next two nights.

These Lions were mating at a waterhole.

She was being very playful!

This was an excellent close range sighting.

Black Rhino.

Great to see one in the daytime.

What a great sighting!

We made camp & explored the area before going on another game drive in the afternoon. And what a game drive it proved to be!

Came across this herd of 60+ Gemsbok. 
The biggest herd we saw in the park.

Red Hartebeast

Double banded Courser

Namaqua Sandgrouse

Male

Up again on the 18th, did the usual game drive.

This group of Kudu were the only animals which

 came down to drink in the afternoon.

Purple Roller

This Cape Turtle Dove showed 
some leusistic plumage.

Bare cheeked Babbler

This localised species is the highlight of this camp.

Great bird!

We really deserved these! Honest!

My home this evening!
A big storm came along, 
so didn't sleep in the tent.

Then went back to camp to relax in the heat of the day. Had a look at the waterhole & did a bit of birding in camp.

At dawn this Bare cheeked Babbler was gleaning

 insects off my windscreen!

Southern Yellow billed Hornbill

Cape Glossy Starling

Lesser Grey Shrike was common in this habitat.

Red Hartebeast

Banded Mongoose

They were living under this roadside.

The track to the edge of the pan.

Pale chanting Goshawk

Double banded Courser

Temminck's Courser

On the 19th we drove from Halali Camp eastwards along the edge of the pan to the Etosha Lookout. It really was a very barren place & very strange to be there.

Namutoni Fort

On top of the fort.

The campsite at Namutoni.

These Banded Mongoose were close to the campsite.

Red billed Hornbill

We then slowly made our way to Namutoni Camp arriving in late morning. This is a great camp to stay in. It even has grass!

Fischer's Pan

Secretarybird

This bird spent a long time digging

 & stamping around.

It came up with nothing though!

Both Greater & Lesser Flamingo's here.

Marabou Stork

African Spoonbill

Sabota Lark

Black faced Impala

Dik Dik

Male Red crested Korhaan

Female

Lanner

Spotted Hyaena

This individual was actively hunting

 in mid-afternoon.

Female Kudu

This Zebra was having a real good time!

Yellow billed Kite

Red necked Falcon

This is a rare & localised species in Namibia.

In the afternoon, we did a drive around Dik Dik Drive & the southern edge of Fischer's Pan.

A small pan on the edge of Etosha Pan.

This bird came down to drink.

Mother & calf.

Another great sighting of a Black Rhino

You don't get much closer than this.

I was surprised to see Blue Crane here.

Tawny Eagle

Immature 

Pale chanting Goshawk

Female Western Red footed Falcon

Kori Bustard

Northern Black Korhaan

Calling

Very common around the pan.

Male Burchell's Sandgrouse

Swallow tailed Bee-eater

On the 20th we drove around Fischer's Pan & then north to the Andoni Plains. We only saw one other vehicle all day! It was an excellent outing.

Difficult to leave this wonderful spot.

The next day we drove south to Windhoek, spent the evening in Joe's Beerhouse & the next day I dropped Tom off at the airport. I hope he enjoyed his little trip.