Lions
Female
Pink billed Lark
Quite common in this section of the park.
On 3rd September we
broke camp early & drove eastwards stopping at Sonderkop Waterhole where we saw three Lionesses with four small
cubs. Unfortunately they were against the light, so the photos aren’t great.
A Sociable Weavers nest.
We enjoyed some nice time in the picnic spot here where among numerous common bird species we saw both Bushveld Elephant Shrew & Four Striped Mouse.
Delana put water down & it caused mahem!
Bushveld Elephant Shrew
It was great to see this widespread
but rarely seen species.
Everything was coming to the water.
I love the little pink tongue!
Four Striped Mouse
Sociable Weaver
Mahem!
Female Great Sparrow with Sociable Weavers.
Female Great Sparrow
Male
Violet eared Waxbill
Sociable Weaver & Violet eared Waxbill
Cape Glossy Starling
We enjoyed some nice time in the picnic spot here where among numerous common bird species we saw both Bushveld Elephant Shrew & Four Striped Mouse.
By this time a full blown dust storm,
was in full swing.
As sudden as it began, it cleared!
Plains Zebra
Black backed Jackal on a very old kill.
We also called in at Ozonjuitji
m’Bari Waterhole. This is a top spot, but today the wind picked up & creating
a dust storm, so conditions made difficult viewing.
At the entrance to the camp.
We were treated to Elephants dust bathing.
We pressed on & made
camp in our favourite spot & chilled out in camp. Later we took a look at the waterhole close to our tent.
We later found out that this Giraffe had been killed
five days previously.
White backed Vultures were waiting nearby.
Another scavenger, Pied Crow.
On 4th September
we drove back westwards again this time with the early morning light behind us
& the wind had died down making favourable viewing conditions. We saw a
recently killed Giraffe by the roadside with a couple of White backed Vultures
on it.
A family of Elephants.
Namqua Sandgrouse
Male
Spike heeled Lark
Pink billed Lark
Southern Ant-eating Chat
There wasn’t a lot of game around, but we did enjoy the antics of a
small family herd of Elephant. We spent time looking at Namaqua Sandgrouse & the various Lark species on the open
plains.
We returned to camp & then went out through the Anderssson’s Gate & had a nice lunch at the Etosha Safari Lodge, complete with quirky bar!
On re-entering the park we stopped at Ombika Waterhole & a Black Rhino was present.
The name says it all!
We returned to camp & then went out through the Anderssson’s Gate & had a nice lunch at the Etosha Safari Lodge, complete with quirky bar!
Black Rhino
Northern Black Korhaan
On re-entering the park we stopped at Ombika Waterhole & a Black Rhino was present.
We first saw this Black Rhino about 2 kms
away from the waterhole.
We then beat it to the waterhole
& let it come to us.
Both de-horned & wearing a satellite bracelet.
A spectacular, close up sighting.
We then continued our game drive visiting Gemsbokvlate where we saw another Black Rhino in perfect
late afternoon light.
Elephant at the waterhole,
taken with a phone camera.
Giraffes coming to drink.
Amazing night time viewing!
After dark we visited the camp waterhole & a further six Black Rhinos were seen!
This Sociable Weavers nest
was inside the camp.
White throated Canaries drinking.
On 5th September
we had to get the truck’s A/C working again. Luckily for us there was a guy in
camp who was just the man & within 45 minutes it was once again pumping
cold air into the cab!
We drove a circuit to the east of camp visiting Nebrowni, Gemsbokvlate, Olifantsbad & Aus Waterholes. We had another nice group of Elephants among the common plains game, but otherwise it was quiet.
A pair of Lappet faced Vultures
in the early morning light.
It was a busy old place!
Oh dear! Life is just not fair!
The more normal version!
We drove a circuit to the east of camp visiting Nebrowni, Gemsbokvlate, Olifantsbad & Aus Waterholes. We had another nice group of Elephants among the common plains game, but otherwise it was quiet.
Okondeka Waterhole
It was a long dusty road to our next stop.
Martial Eagle
We passed the site of the dead Giraffe again
& this time there was a lot more activity.
White backed Vulture
Black backed Jackals.
& this time there was a lot more activity.
On 6th September
we drove to Okondeka Waterhole
hoping to see Lion, but none were present.
Another panic on!
They had killed a Springbok in the night &
this was what was left!
The Lions moved off about 50 m & the game
was down drinking.
Meanwhile they are not far away!
Kori Bustard
This large bull Elephant made the Lions move off away,
so that game could drink.
Life getting back to normal.
We then pushed on Ozonjuitji m’Bari Waterhole where
everything was happening! Huge numbers of game were present as were six Lions!
We stayed watching their antics for quite some time. The group seemed to be
made up of a mature female with adolescent Lions of differing ages. It was a
magical few hours with great light & a procession of different animal
species coming down to drink.
Part of the group of six Lions.
Game was coming down to drink
& then seeing the Lions!
There was a traffic jam of several hundred animals,
as they couldn't get to the waterhole.
Meanwhile.....
this was what was left!
was down drinking.
so that game could drink.
Looking into the fenced area.
Notice outside the fence is heavily grazed,
inside little grazing pressure.
Many Aloes grow inside the protected area,
as Elephants can't reach them here.
The Ghost Trees, these are outside
the protected area!
Meanwhile back at the picnic site!
Once we put water down, animals came running!
Cape Glossy Starling
On our return we briefly visited the Sprokieswoud (Ghost Tree ) Forest
& the picnic site for lunch.
After a few hours in camp we drove out to Gemsbokvlate, where we saw yet another Black Rhino & on our drive back to camp we enjoyed a pair of Lions close to Nebrowni Waterhole.
Lone bull at Gemsbokvlate.
Then a Black Rhino arrived.
Wonderful, point blank late afternoon views.
Red capped Larks were also drinking here.
Late afternoon scene at Nebrowni Waterhole.
While just a little away from the waterhole....
After a few hours in camp we drove out to Gemsbokvlate, where we saw yet another Black Rhino & on our drive back to camp we enjoyed a pair of Lions close to Nebrowni Waterhole.
That evening we saw another 2 Black Rhino
at the camp waterhole.
Birds:
Common Ostrich; Red-billed Spurfowl; Helmeted Guineafowl; Egyptian Goose; Acacia Pied Barbet; Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill; African Grey Hornbill; African Palm Swift; African Scops Owl; Pearl-spotted Owlet; Laughing Dove; Cape Turtle Dove; Namaqua Dove; Ludwig's Bustard; Kori Bustard; Northern Black Korhaan; Namaqua Sandgrouse; Double-banded Sandgrouse; Burchell's Sandgrouse; Common Greenshank; Ruff; Spotted Thick-knee; Kittlitz's Plover; Three-banded Plover; Blacksmith Lapwing; Crowned Lapwing; White-backed Vulture; Lappet-faced Vulture; Bateleur; Pale Chanting Goshawk; Gabar Goshawk; Tawny Eagle; Wahlberg's Eagle; Martial Eagle; Long-crested Eagle; Rock Kestrel; Greater Kestrel; Lanner Falcon; Little Grebe; Black-headed Heron; Greater Flamingo; Southern White-crowned Shrike; Cape Crow; Pied Crow; Fork-tailed Drongo; Crimson-breasted Shrike; Groundscraper Thrush; Chat Flycatcher; Marico Flycatcher; Familiar Chat; Ant-eating Chat; Cape Glossy Starling; Rock Martin; Pearl-breasted Swallow; African Red-eyed Bulbul; Desert Cisticola; Black-chested Prinia; Yellow-bellied Eremomela; Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler; Fawn-coloured Lark; Sabota Lark; Spike-heeled Lark; Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark; Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark; Red-capped Lark; Pink-billed Lark; Stark's Lark; Scarlet-chested Sunbird; White-bellied Sunbird; Great Sparrow; Southern Grey-headed Sparrow; Scaly-feathered Finch; White-browed Sparrow-Weaver; Sociable Weaver; Violet-eared Waxbill; Red-headed Finch; Black-throated Canary; Yellow Canary; White-throated Canary.
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