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The Frontier and Garden Route Parks


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Panthera Pardus
Posted

Hope you had a great Easter break, but waiting to hear more from you on this thread. Pen

 

@@penolva, we had a great Easter in some of the Kwazulu Natal Parks. I had to go for surgery to repair an inguinal hernia when we returned. Will continue this shortly. ^_^

Posted

Oh painful! Get well soon Pen

Panthera Pardus
Posted

Storms River Camp - Tsitsikamma Section, Garden Route National Park

 

Like Wilderness, Storms River is more about beautiful vistas and hiking trails rather than wildlife. The world famous Otter Trail starts at this rest camp. We stayed in what is termed the Oceannettes. Also available are log cabins and camping.

 

This is what our Oceanette looked like:

 

View from Balcony

 

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Bedroom

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Kitchen and lounge

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It is beautful and relaxing

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Sunset from your balcony

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Panthera Pardus
Posted

When staying at Storms River, you can do the first 3 kilometers of the Otter trail. Some pictures from this walk

 

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Black Oyster Catcher

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Kelp Gull and Egyptian Goose

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Dassies (Rock hyrax)

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The suspension bridge at Storms River

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In the Tsitsikamma Forest very close to Storms River is the "Big Tree" - see link below

 

http://www.sa-venues.com/things-to-do/easterncape/the-big-tree/

 

 

This big tree is definitely worth a vist. Imagine a 1000 year old tree and what stories it will be able to tell

 

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Sharifa at the Big Tree

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There are a number of walks in the Tsitsikamma Forest and they are good for finding some forest birds like the Knysna Wood pecker and Knysa Turaco.

Posted

a very enjoyable report - thanks for sharing.

Panthera Pardus
Posted

Bontebok National Park

 

The smallets of our National Parks, situated on the banks of the Breede River. Bontebok National Park was proclaimed in 1931 to save the Bontebok. Only 17 were left. The park was moved to its present location which which is more suited to the Bontebok. By 1969 there were estimated to be 800 Bontebok globally and today there are about 3000. 200 are in Bontebok National Park.

 

The accommodation

 

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The Bontebok

 

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The Park also protects the endangered Renosterveld - a type of fynbos.

 

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It is a small park and a leisurely drive through the park takes 2 hours. We also sighted a Grey Rhebuck

 

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African Stone Chat

 

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Cape Bulbul

 

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An aerial battle between a steppe buzzard and booted eagle

 

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and the Black Harrier

 

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Peter Connan
Posted

Beautiful thank you!

Panthera Pardus
Posted

The Karoo National Park

 

History

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The accommodation is excellent

 

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There is a wonderful display area showing the geology and fossils and one can spend quite a bit of time here

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Karoo Landscapes and Animals

 

Grey Rhebuck

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Eland Herd

 

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Gemsbok

 

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Zebra

 

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Zebra, Red Haartebeest and Ostrich

 

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Panthera Pardus
Posted

More Landscapes and Animals of the Karoo National Park

 

Red Haartebeest

 

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Gemsbok

 

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Grey Rhebok

 

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Landscape

 

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Zebra

 

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Kudu

 

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Ostrich

 

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Kori Bustard

 

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Booted Eagle

 

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Lion with Kill on the 4x4 route

 

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michael-ibk
Posted

As always, I'm thoroughly enjoying your report. Love the rheboks, not an animal often seen in reports. And that last picture is outstanding, seems as if Eland and Lion would just be taking a nap together on first glance.

Panthera Pardus
Posted

As always, I'm thoroughly enjoying your report. Love the rheboks, not an animal often seen in reports. And that last picture is outstanding, seems as if Eland and Lion would just be taking a nap together on first glance.

 

Hi Michael, our first ever sighting of rheboks. The lion and eland were in a dry riverbed and when we entered we were alos a little confused - does look like they having a nap together :lol:

Posted

Very interesting and such unusual animals. We are all booked for these parks next February/March so will try to spot some of them. Pen

Panthera Pardus
Posted (edited)

Camdeboo National Park

 

Camdeoo means green valley and the rest camp is located on the flood plains of the Nqweba Dam.

 

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The Lakeview Tented Camp has 4 units and each tent sleeps 2 people and has a braai, fridge, table and 2 chairs. Bedding and towels provided. There is a communal kitchen, equipped with stove, crockery and cutlery, and a microwave and also a communal braai area. Communal showers and toilets are provided.

 

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There is a game drive area but Camdeboo is all about "The Valley of Desolation" where dolerites form jointed pillars which rise to heights of about 100 meters. We were fortunate to have a storm brewiing when we visted which added to the contrast of the beautifulo vistas.

 

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The town of Beaufort West seen from the Valley of Desolation

 

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That concludes this trip. Thank you to those who joined us :)

Edited by Panthera Pardus
Peter Connan
Posted

Thanks for a wonderfull trip report from an area that few are even aware of.

  • 2 weeks later...
Morkel Erasmus
Posted

@@Panthera Pardus fabulous overview of these lesser-known parks. I have been to many of them but Camdeboo, Bontebok and Karoo still elude me.

Did you see the new lions in MZNP as well?

Panthera Pardus
Posted

Hi @@Morkel Erasmus.

 

The lions at MZNP eluded us.

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