We arrived at Mata Mata Camp mid-afternoon on 1st March for a four nights stay. The camp is well laid out with many of the camping sites having good shade. It tends to be quite a quiet & restful camp, with a lovely ambience about it.
Our camp takes a while to set up,
but it is worth it if one is staying for a few days.
There is only one road to take out of the camp along the very scenic Auob River. However, the major drawback of this road is that it runs eastward, thereby early morning one is always facing into the sun! Not great for photography. However, we didn't do too badly!
Lioness
Drinking at a muddy waterhole early morning.
Black-backed Jackal in the early morning light.
Jackals mate for life & often hunt in pairs.
Gemsbok
A family herd of Blue Wildebeest at a waterhole.
Using the mud to cool down!
A little over-kill on the mud?
There were about 70 animals in this herd.
Dominant male chasing off a potential rival male.
Youngster.
This herd was very successful with many young.
Red Hartebeest
Digging for the freshest water.
Martial Eagle
Collecting branches for its nest.
On the nest.
This is a large, powerful Eagle!
Black-breasted Snake-eagle
Widespread,but thinly distributed here.
Black-winged Kite.
Lanner
Adult
All the above are the same individual.
This bird was at the same waterhole.
A large variety of plumage patterns in this species.
A third individual.
Red-headed Falcon.
Male Rock Kestrel
A scarce but widespread species in the Kalahari.
Immature Pale Chanting Goshawk.
Shikra
Another species which stakes out
waterholes,hunting for small birds.
Pygmy Falcon
Spotted Eagle Owl
At daytime roost.
Kori Bustard this park is a stronghold
for this species
Spotted Dikkop
In the daytime always hiding
in the shade.
African Grey Hornbill is a very scarce bird here.
Confined to the more wooded Auob River valley.
Lilac breasted Roller another very scarce
species here. We only saw a couple of birds
in the entire park.
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater.
Coughing up an insect pellet.
Cape Glossy Starling.
Cardinal Woodpecker.
Found in only the more wooded river valleys.
Lesser Grey Shrike found in good numbers
throughout the park.
Capped Wheatear.
Red-headed Finch. Present in good numbers
throughout the park after the rains.
Male Cape Sparrow
Female
Yellow Canary
Male Shaft-tailed Whydah
in full breeding plumage.
Lark-like Bunting.
This highly nomadic species was present in
good numbers after the rains.
We really enjoyed our four nights at Mata Mata Camp. The daily routine was get up early for a morning game drive, spend the heat of the day in camp ie me having a knap! Followed by an afternoon game drive. We enjoyed some nice sightings here, combined with a relaxing time. Highly recommended that one spends time in this very scenic area.
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