We drove south from Kasane early morning on 4th October, seeing three Lionesses crossing the road 150 kms north of Nata. I was driving, so my camera was packed away but Delana managed to get a few record shots with her camera.
Three Lionesses.
Great to see them outside of a game reserve.
We had an unscheduled stop in Nata as two of the hinges on our back window of the truck had shorn through. An hour later, we were on our way again with our window working perfectly. There is a lot to be said for a good bush mechanic!
As we drove south the area totally opens up
into grassland.
Few animals & birds can live here in the dry season,
as there is no surface water.
The edge of the vast pan can just be seen
in the distance.
Spotted Dikkop
Double banded Courser
Female Northern
Black Korhaan
Male
At Nata were turned west, & after 18 kms south, on an increasingly rough dirt track. It was 92 kilometers to Kubu Island our destination for the next two nights. It took us close on four hours of sometimes tough driving.
Kubu Island is a small island surrounded by the vast Sua Pan. It is isolated & incredibly beautiful but due to the lack of surface water there are few species of birds & animals present.
Our first view of Kubu Island.
Kubu Island is a small island surrounded by the vast Sua Pan. It is isolated & incredibly beautiful but due to the lack of surface water there are few species of birds & animals present.
We were meeting Riccus, Shileen & their three boys. They were driving from the south (a much easier route) & us from the north. We made camp & after a couple of hours they arrived. We had picked a lovely campsite which could accommodate us all.
There are 46 Baobab trees on the island
in a very small area.
in a very small area.
Kubu Island is an isolated granite rock island on the western edge of Sua Pan. The earliest inhabitants were nomadic hunter gatherers & there is still a little evidence of their occupation. There are magnificent rock formations & plenty of superb Baobabs. It is a winning combination & we all enjoyed our time there.
We went for a walk cum drive around the island.
One feels very small in this landscape.
Looking from the island to the grasslands/pan.
Information on Kubu.
Just for scale!
Our campsite.
The boys had brought their off road bike along.
They had a great time driving over the tracks
close to the pan.
Southern Ant-eating Chat
Looking back, Kubu Island is in the distance.
Dusk from the campsite.
Up the hill on Kubu.
Shileen & Riccus
Sunset from the top of the island
Delana walking to the top of the island.
Dawn the next day.
Lilac breasted Roller
Acacia Pied Barbet
They had a great time driving over the tracks
close to the pan.
These couple of days were not really for birding & the species is very limited here. We recorded only 46 species: best being Steppe Eagle; Double banded Courser & plenty of Eastern Clapper Larks on the southern grasslands. It was a pleasant two days though in a very different setting than what one normally finds. It was also nice to spend time with Riccus, Shileen & their three boys.
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