The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP)

[Panthera Pardus]

01 August 2013

 

Another day that started at freezing point but it did get to 22 °C. We got some good early morning sightings of gemsbok, giraffe and springboks in the Aoub Riverbed

 

 

 

 

 

It was a windy morning and his majesty was at the top of the dune all huddled up trying to keep wartm

 

 

 

But did lift his head up for a brief moment

 

 

There were not many bird sightings compared to summer but we did manage to see a few crimson breasted shrikes

 

 

and only a hadful of swallow tailed bee-eaters

 

 

Another pygmy falcon

 

 

 

and the resident cape fox at Urikaruus came to say hello that evening

 

 

 

[Panthera Pardus]

02 August 2013

 

Today we were moving from Urikaruus camp on the Auob side to Nossob Camp.

 

A lion in the Auob riverbed

 

 

Gabar Goshawks

 

 

Two spotted hyenas

 

 

 

Slender mongoose sunning themselves

 

 

A honey badger on the upper dune road. He did not hang around and darted off

 

 

 

 

 

 

[pault]

More goodies. Honey badger is the highlight of the day for me, but Lion on dune ridge makes the best picture.

[Panthera Pardus]

03 August 2013

 

We drove south form Nossob and the highlight for today was a honey badger with youngster at Cheleka Waterhole. They were far from the waterhole but the HB was digging away and watched closely by a Pale Chanting Goshawk and Black Backed Jackal.

 

 

 

 

 

We also saw a lion couple at Marie se Gat

 

 

And a White Faced Scops Owl in Nossob Camp

 

 

 

 

[Game Warden]

Love the honey badger but really love the White Faced Scops...

[Panthera Pardus]

04 August 2013

 

Today was all about a lion sighting north of Nossob. A pride consisting of 3 lions, 4 lionesses and 4 cubs. They were in the bush when we got their but came on to road and put on a show

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[owenshaffer]

Is it possible to rent a 4x4 vehicle and a driver/guide to do the (KTP)? I don't drive in Africa.

[owenshaffer]

Dear former member,

 

Thank you again because this what he told me when I met him at Mwamba camp in South Luangwa national Park,

Edited January 6, 2019 by Tdgraves
p

[Panthera Pardus]

@@owenshaffer, former member has answered your question. Yes, you can hire a guide/driver. It will be difficult to get into the Wilderness Camps, unless you book well in advance. Bookings open 11 months in advance

Edited January 6, 2019 by Tdgraves
p

[Panthera Pardus]

05 August 2013

 

Today we were moving camps from Nossob to Grootkolk. We stopped at Lijersdraai Waterhole for lunch. We were nor concentrating on the waterhole as we were looking at the birds in the trees when this guy appeared out of nowhere, did not even hear him coming

 

 

 

Also saw some meerkats - always a thrill for us

 

 

 

 

 

That evening while we were busy braaing (barbecue) a leaoprd visited the Grootkolk waterhole

 

 

[Panthera Pardus]

06 August 2013

 

Lion at the waterhole early in the morning

 

 

Eland on the morning drive

 

 

Mating Ostriches

 

 

Followed by mating Lanner Falcons

 

 

More Lions

 

 

 

 

African Wildcat

 

 

Meerkats again

 

 

 

with little ones :)

 

 

Glorious Grootkolk sunset

 

 

Spooted hyena at the waterhole at night

 

[pault]

Great meerkat shots in the last post and I a very cool wildcat shot - never seen one in a tree before.... even pictured. Another great post.

[africapurohit]

@@Panthera Pardus and @@Sharifa you have an amazing collection of bird photos that would be welcome in this forum (especially the black-shouldered kites):

http://safaritalk.net/forum/234-identification-images-and-audio/

 

You'll probably have to start a few new threads

[Panthera Pardus]

@@africapurohit - will do as time allows

[Panthera Pardus]

@@pault, have seen the Wildcat in trees in KTP.

 

07 August 2013

 

Early this morning we had a Brown Hyena come drink at the waterhole

 

 

and then do some territorial marking

 

 

 

 

A beautiful sunrise

 

 

The birds at the camp water bath

 

Glossy Starling

 

 

Red Headed Finch

 

 

 

Sociable Weaver

 

 

Namaqua Sandgrouse

 

 

Yellow Canary

 

[owenshaffer]

I've heard that it is possible to book a trip to KTP through a tour operator in Johannesburg. I don't drive in Africa so I would like to know where I could book an excursion for a week or possibly two. Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you,Owen

[owenshaffer]

I know that you have already answered my question but I'm trying to find a specific operator.

[Panthera Pardus]

Hi @@owenshaffer. I never had a need to look into tour operators as I do the self drive thing. I know @@kittykat23uk did some research on this and perhaps she can help here

[owenshaffer]

Yes, he told me about the company he had used that was based in Johannesburg but unfortunately I didn't have the chance to write down the name of the company. I will contact him again.

 

Thanks again

Edited January 6, 2019 by Tdgraves
p

[Panthera Pardus]

08 August 2013

 

We had the brown Hyena at the watrhole again this morning, together with a black backed jackal

 

 

Today we had a long drive from Grootkolk to Kalahari Tented Camp. We saw our first cheetah for the trip just north of Nossob but it was not a good sighting

 

 

A pair of verreauxs eagle owl

 

 

 

 

A Martial Eagle in flight

 

 

 

A rock kestrel

 

 

 

 

 

[Treepol]

@@Panthera Pardus and @@ice and others with KTP experience, I wonder if you can give us some driving ideas for next August.

 

We are a party of 5 travelling with a private guide and have 3 nights accommodation booked at Twee Riverien and 3 nights at Kalahari Farmstall Chalets just 14 kms outside the park on the Namibian side. We were booking in September this year for August 2014 but could not get Mata Mata or Nossob as we need 5 chalets including guide accommodation.

 

We land at Upington at 12.30 so we won't have time to do much of a drive on the arrival day - what would you recommend for the remaining 2 full days? I was hoping to book the Leeuwdril 4x4 trail - is it worth it for a half day?

 

We have to to transfer from Twee Riverien to the Kalahari Farmstall Chalets on Day 4 and will be coming back into the park for 2 full days - what drives do you recommend from the western side of KTP?

Edited October 5, 2013 by Treepol

[ice]

first of all, depending on much time you'll need to clear the airport, there might still be some time for a short drive on the Day 1 - you will not drive for more 2 1/2 h to TR

 

I have never done the Leeuwdril Trail so I can't comment on it other than that I heard that these drives do usually not generate great sightings but are primarily aimed 4x4 lovers

 

if you plan on spending entire days in the park, you could drive up as far as Nossob or Mata Mata (or from Namibia down to TR) and still be back at TR / the border on time - unless, of course, you will spend hours at sightings

 

the only (!) other option is to head north east or north west up until the Upper Dune Road and then return on the other side of the park - personally, I would base my final decisions on what sightings have been observed the day before

Edited October 5, 2013 by ice

[Treepol]

Thanks @@ice, good to know we can comfortably do TR-Nossob in a day.

[Panthera Pardus]

@@Treepol - as ice has mentioned the leeudrill 4x4 route is more for experiencing a drive through the dunes and the solitude rather than for sightings. You have a better chance of good sightings on the riverbeds and can easy do a long drive and back to Twee Rivieren in a day.

 

Which side - Auob or Nossob - do one on each day to expereince both sides.

[Treepol]

@@Panthera Pardus good advice, thank you so much.