Tsumeb

Our welcome sign!

Our little cottage, with all mod-cons inside!

 We arrived in Tsumeb on 20th October to have our covid test as per Namibian government guidelines. We did this with no problems & then went to Connie & Artu's house, which would be our base for the next week. 

Young Crowned Plover

Cape Glossy Starling

The next few days were a round of shopping & doing chores ready for our up coming trip to Etosha National Park. We received our negative test results, so we are now free to go where we want to in Namibia.

Delana on a Zoom call to South Africa.

Crimson breasted Gonolek

Carp's Tit

On 22nd October we visited Markus & Erica farm at Zuri. This was primarily for Delana to get a good connection for her Zoom meetings with her on going work in South Africa. I sat on the deck & did a spot of birding in the intense heat: best species was Carp's Tit.

Connie at her testing station!

Erica & Markus, doing the test!

A little later in the evening!

In the evening we had a few social distancing friends around for a covid party!

African Hoopoe

Bare cheeked Babbler

Arrow marked Babbler

The next day I birded the garden & the surrounding Golf Course seeing 37 species. Bare-cheeked Babblers were an ever present in the garden. As were Arrow-marked Babblers. The latter species according to e-bird is several hundred kilometers out of range! 

The wonderfully eccentric bush-camp.

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

Grey Lourie

It was an incredibly hot day.

On 24th October we briefly visited Delana's Bush Camp, mainly to check up on the place & make a list of all the equipment we have to replace after thieves stole all the electrical stuff. It was suffocatingingly hot but birds were seen on the tracks & coming to drink at the main waterhole. 

Best birds: African Hawk Eagle; Red crested Korhaan & Small Buttonquail.  

Pectoral Sandpiper?

On 26th October we briefly visited the Tsumeb Water Treatment Plant & found an intriguing bird.  At first glance we thought it was a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper! However, looking at the photos it could be a Sharp-tailed or even a juvenile Stilt Sandpiper! Didn't get enough on the bird as all possibilities are mind blowing for Namibia!

Delana arranged the fairy lights!

Me thinks it is time to go home!

We then went to Markus & Erica's farm for a nice pool party! It was a very enjoyable week here. Big thanks to Connie & Artu for giving us superb hospitality.

Onguma: The Fort

One announces one's arrival 

by banging the gong!

It has a very Arabic feel.

Walking inside, a very cool atmosphere.

The pool.

Our place is the middle one.

 We arrived at our destination late afternoon on 16th October. And what a destination it turned out to be! This is a place we have had our eyes on for some time but the high prices kept us away. However with the covid pandemic these luxury lodges are struggling & largely empty of guests. Prices reduced by up to 70%, so we were in!

Our little piece of paradise.

Looking into the bush from the rear.

The front of the house.

The view from the deck, looking into Etosha.

Not too shabby!

Hello Onguma!

After a long drive, it was nice to have an 

outdoor shower & just relax on the deck.

Birding in style!

Sundowners on the deck.

There were three adults & three 

slightly smaller youngsters.

This one even climbed a tree!

We woke up early on 17th October because a Lion was calling. Didn't see the beast but did spot six Cheetahs at the waterhole! They stuck around for nearly two hours, giving great entertainment through the binoculars & scope but just a little too far for good photos.

Namaqua Sandgrouse

Southern Masked Weaver

Even though there has been no rain yet, 

birds are getting ready for the

 breeding season.

Springbok seeing out the heat of the day.

We then enjoyed a leisurely breakfast on the deck, watching over 400 Namaqua Sandgrouse coming to drink & the comings & goings of the common plains game at the waterhole.

Namatoni Gate: we were the only people there!

On the 18th October we did a day trip into Etosha National Park. We entered through Namutoni Gate & then drove to Klein Namutoni & Dik Dik Drive to the camp. 

Parts of the bush was still burning.

13 Spotted Hyena were playing around the dam.

There was the remains of a kill, 

that was attracting attention.

Some were playing in the dam & trying to cool off.

A Tawny Eagle was looking on.

Wattled Starling

Dik-dik

This is a good spot to see this species close up.

It was incredibly hot & the fire had just passed through very recently meaning that bird life was very scarce. 

We were the only people in the shop!

Never happened before!

Lots of animals were coming to drink.

Blue Crane

This is a small & very isolated population

 here in the park.

Marabou Stork

We then move on to the camp itself & it was empty! We had a look at the waterhole, which was thronged with animals & a few birds coming in to drink. Probably the best record was the flock of 20+ Quail Finches drinking but they kept well out of camera range.

Elephant

There are nearly always Giraffes drinking here.

Secretarybird

White backed Vulture

We then carried on to Tsumcor which had the usual Giraffes drinking. Also a pair of Secretary Birds came in & had a little spat with a White backed Vulture over water rights!

Rattling Cisticola

Red capped Lark

Gemsbok

Over 100+ were seen on the grasslands.

Huge numbers of game were around the waterhole.

Springbok

Black faced Impala

38 White backed Vultures were present 

around the waterhole.

Double banded Courser

This pair were using the marker post as shade.

Red capped Lark

c250 birds were scattered around the waterhole.

Fawn coloured Lark

Juvenile Rufous naped Lark

This is the namibian race, which looks very

 different from the birds in South Africa.

We drove further north skirting the edge of the vast Etosha Pan, which looked brutal & unforgiving in this heat, before entering the open plains of the Andoni Flats. Animals were in very good numbers, particularly around the waterhole. 

It is time to say good bye to Onguma & Etosha National Park. We have had a wonderful time here & we will be back shortly. Now we have to return to civilization to have our mandatory covid test & hopefully test negative so we can continue our trip.