The Frontier and Garden Route Parks

[Panthera Pardus]

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.

[penolva]

Oh painful! Get well soon Pen

[Panthera Pardus]

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

 

 

Bedroom

 

Kitchen and lounge

 

It is beautful and relaxing

 

 

Sunset from your balcony

 

 

[Panthera Pardus]

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

 

 

 

Black Oyster Catcher

 

 

Kelp Gull and Egyptian Goose

 

 

Dassies (Rock hyrax)

 

 

The suspension bridge at Storms River

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sharifa at the Big Tree

 

 

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.

[Soukous]

a very enjoyable report - thanks for sharing.

[Panthera Pardus]

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bontebok

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

African Stone Chat

 

 

Cape Bulbul

 

 

 

An aerial battle between a steppe buzzard and booted eagle

 

 

 

 

and the Black Harrier

 

[Peter Connan]

Beautiful thank you!

[Panthera Pardus]

The Karoo National Park

 

History

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accommodation is excellent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Karoo Landscapes and Animals

 

Grey Rhebuck

 

 

 

 

Eland Herd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gemsbok

 

 

 

 

Zebra

 

 

 

Zebra, Red Haartebeest and Ostrich

 

[Panthera Pardus]

More Landscapes and Animals of the Karoo National Park

 

Red Haartebeest

 

 

Gemsbok

 

 

Grey Rhebok

 

 

 

Landscape

 

 

 

Zebra

 

 

Kudu

 

 

Ostrich

 

 

Kori Bustard

 

 

Booted Eagle

 

 

 

Lion with Kill on the 4x4 route

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

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]

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

[penolva]

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]

Camdeboo National Park

 

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

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The town of Beaufort West seen from the Valley of Desolation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Edited June 10, 2014 by Panthera Pardus

[Peter Connan]

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

[Morkel Erasmus]

@@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]

Hi @@Morkel Erasmus.

 

The lions at MZNP eluded us.