We left Balcombe on 13th October. Jonathan very kindly drove us to the airport which was both convenient & kind of him. Very few people were in Heathrow, which meant we breezed through in record time. The flight to Frankfurt was uneventful. Upon landing the strangeness continued: the place was empty! We saw no one through our very long walk & train ride through an empty airport. Few people were on the plane & we flew through he night landing at Windhoek at 6 am.
Arrival at Windhoek Airport at dawn.
All our documentation was in order & we eventually got through formalities to pick up our hire car. It is quite a long drive to the Ai Aiba Rock Painting Lodge, the last 130 kilometers being on the famous Namibian gravel roads.
The long & dusty road.
Our very nice hire car, which we got at a bargain price!
we started to see game.
The view in front of the chalet in late afternoon. The small waterhole was important for both
birds & mammals.
The view from behind the chalet.
Black Mongoose, in the rocks behind our chalet.
Rock Martin feeding young.
The lounge/restaurant area, which overlooks the waterhole.
Kudu at the waterhole late afternoon.
Just over 30 hours since leaving the UK, we are in a different world.
The lodge is in a lovely setting in the Erongo Mountains & we spent late afternoon lazing around the pool & birding from the verandah.
Evening proved to be an exciting time.
Temperatures reached 40 degrees Celsius in the day time, so with darkness & cooling temperatures many animals came to drink.
Jameson's Rock-rabbit
Strictly nocturnal & rarely observed.
Confined to rocky kopjes.
Delighted to see this species at such close range.
We were also treated to a tame Jameson's Rock-rabbit which fed on the lawn under the cover of darkness.
The worst photo ever of Freckled Nightjar!
At least four Freckled Nightjars were flying around & calling loudly.
The lodge at dawn, nestled among the mountains.
For a short while, the light was amazing.
The only time to hike is very early morning.
Black Rhino dung just behind the lodge.
Ridiculously difficult to see.
Chestnut vented Tit-babbler
The common species of Sunbird in this part of Namibia.
Singing.
Black throated Canary
We were up early an hour before dawn. There was a slight chill in the air as we set off on our circular hike up into the hills surrounding the lodge. For about two hours everything was perfect, great temperature, plenty of birds around & beautiful surroundings. However by 8.30 am the temperature was rising fast & avian activity was declining. So we returned to the lodge for breakfast overlooking the waterhole & this was very productive.
There was a steady stream of animals coming to drink.
This family made themselves very much at home.
Rosy faced Lovebirds were regular visitors to the waterhole.
Very common on the koppies.
White browed Sparrow-weaver
Namib Rock Agama
Rock Dassie (Hyrax)
Leucism is quite rare in this species.
With its more normal brethren.
We were up early on 16th October & reluctantly packed up for the long drive north. The Rock Dassies were in evidence just behind our chalet & with them was a young leusistic animal. Lucky to survive as it really stood out among the rocks.
Connie & Delana, friends since they met when they were ten years old.
We had an uneventful four hour drive to Tsumeb where we met up with Connie for a quick chat.
I also received my copy of the Namibian Bird Club Calendar 2021 in which I have a photo! Then it was on to the very edge of Etosha & our destination The Fort at Onguma.
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