Namibia 2017: Two Cats on a hot Tin Roof

[xelas]

BB #2

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

BB #3

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

BB #4 & #5

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

BB #6

 

 

 

 

 

[Davesg]

My initial reaction to the first set of your BB photos was pleasure at seeing them complete with horns...quite rare these days. So sad to see the ones that have been de-horned in following sets. The consequence of human greed unfortunately.

 

very nice photos once again BTW!

Edited July 22, 2017 by Davesg

[xelas]

@Davesg, my feelings also. But even without its horn bb is a magnificient animal, well worth to be protected, and to be admired by future generations.

Edited July 22, 2017 by xelas

[xyz99]

1 hour ago, xelas said:

@Davesg, my feelings also. But even without its horn bb is a magnificient animal, well worth to be protected, and to be admired by future generations.

 

I have to agree. Better horn-less than dead, until we humans learn how to just admire them as BBs. And I hope someday we will...

[xelas]

Day 22: The Oldest Thing On Planet Earth

 

 

There is a pretty good reason why most of the people that were already in Namibia recommends to do the clockwise route if Etosha is on itinerary; anything after exiting the wonders of Etosha is like a huge anticlimax! To cope with this feeling I have followed the advice of a wise man. Thank you, @Galana ! After Namutoni we did not took the quickest way towards Otjiwarongo (our next stop) but we decided to visit the site where one can see and touch the oldest thing on Planet Earth: the Hoba meteorite.

 

We have started quite early, after doing our last roof top tent excise, and on the way to Hoba we have stooped at Grootfontein. This is described as a small town but it is not that small at all! I have read somewhere that there is a nice cafe to have your brunch or lunch: The Purple Fig Cafe. The name is catchy but the place was hard to find despite three different navigation maps used. As a last resort I went back to the roots: slowly cruising one street and then the next one and finally we were lucky to spot the place. It looks like a small oasis, and it serves some good sweets and decent burgers.

 

 

 

 

We all have been very please with our 8 nights in Etosha; we have seen almost all of the animals that one can usually see, but the leopard. So Tanja took pity of me lamenting the bad karma I have, and he draw me one!

 

 

 

The Hoba Meteorite site is another green oasis, with plenty of trees surrounding the meteorite, and even the braai places for visitors. The meteorite itself is an impressive sight.

 

 

 

Many trees have made a bird haven and birding was unexpectedly good. Looking down for birds ...

 

Green-winged Pytilla

 

... and after seeing this warning ...

 

 

... one looks up for birds ...

 

Village Weaver female

 

... and down ...

 

Violets-Eared Waxbill female

 

... and Ups, not a bird here ...

 

 

and up ...

 

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

 

 

... but by now you've got the idea  !

[xelas]

The gravel road D2860 eventually reaches the tarmac B8, and this one the B1 yet at least while on the D2860 one can stop and take photos whenever opportunity calls.

 

 

 

 

 

This below is one very rare sight in Namibia. And despite the fact railroad crossings are rare one has to obey the signals as there are actually trains going on!

 

 

 

 

 

Thus we have arrived at Otjiwarongo, and our place called Hadassa Guest House B&B not too tired, and in time to get a good shower before the in house dinner. Hadassa Guesthouse has changed the owners from when we stayed there in 2014, but also the new owners are French so cuisine is still above average. Rooms are clean and nice and with A/C, pool surprisingly large, and parking place behind the wall. There were a construction as the new owners are adding more rooms, but work was over when we arrived, and did not start before we left the next day.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

You were not kidding about the quantity and quality of Rhino sightings. Good decision to present them "out of order", although it's a sad thing this has become necessary.

[xelas]

Day 23: Sadness in the Eyes

 

We woke up into our last full day in Namibia. In 2014 Zvezda and me have visited the CCF - Cheetah Conservation Fund. This year we wnet to see the AfriCat Foundation. Both dedicates their effort to save cheetah in the wild. AfriCat has its main "office" within the much larger Okonjima Nature Reserve. It is about 30 minutes south of Otjiwarongo, and thus only about 2 1/2 hrs from Windhoek.

As from recently there are accommodations also at CCF, yet it is hard to believe they are on the same level as those at Okonjima. I am no fan of luxury when in the wild, so it was good to learn there is also a campsite there.

 

Finding Okonjima (and AfriCat) is easy; there was no need for advanced booking of a tour yet I did call the office in the morning anyway. While guests of the Okonjima can do the game drives in the larger area of the Reserve, day visitors to AfriCat can only do the game drive within smaller enclousures where the cheetah are kept during the "rehabilitation" process.

 

I am no fan of such places. It is very hard for me to find that fine red line where the conservancy ends and business starts. But putting that aside, I have found Okonjima to be very "photogenic" place, and a good place to be introduced to the wildlife of Namibia.

 

Main sign along the B1 road

 

Monteiro's Hornbill with a critter

 

First gate to Okonjima ...

 

... and second gate to AfriCat

 

A group of Banded Mongoose ...

 

... and another curious giraffe

Edited July 25, 2017 by xelas

[xelas]

While they do help reintroducing also leopards, cheetah are their main "target animal". The guide told us all the numbers but I have forgot most of them. What striked me though, was a relatively low number of adult animals that are released into the larger Okonjima territory, and even lower number of cheetah that are reintroduced to places elsewhere, like Etosha. 

As day visitors we did board a game drive vehicle and were transported to where majority of cheetah are kept. They are fed with mostly a donkey meat; and they are mostly living in pairs. Thus we have been driven inside of of those "living rooms" and have spent some time with two cheetahs. They must have been there for a while as they seemed to be well acquainted to the humans. That gave us some excellent photo opportunities. 

In comparison to the cheetah we have seen in the wild (Etosha and Kgalagadi) these two exemplars were like bodybuilders. Well fed, muscular, from a distance a silhouette of a leopard; but also here I cannot but to notice kind of sad expression in their eyes. Or is it only my imagination?? Or maybe it was me, being sad that yet another fantastic trip has come to an end???

 

Welcoming visitors

 

Sad eyes

 

Annoyed by something (or someone?)

 

Friends for life

 

Breakfast was delicious

 

Playing with the tail

 

Stretching the muscles

 

 

Good bye, and good luck!

 

 

Edited July 25, 2017 by xelas

[xelas]

Second part of the tour we have visited the AfriCat learning and research centre. Our guide (whos name I have also forgot) explained us about what are AfriCat missions. Last stop was at the cafe; as said in the opening, Okonjima has a very varied landscape and enough of wildlife to warrant a night or two, best at the start of the tour of Namibia.

 

Explaining the project

 

View from the cafe

 

Short-toed Rock-thrush

 

Large male kudu

 

Surprised waterbuck ... but we were even more surprised to see it!

 

That's it, folks! Only 220 km to Windhoek, on a boring B1 tar road, drop-off the rental car and shake hands with George, the garage manager, and yet another trip to Africa and Namibia has ended.

 

B1 and construction of a new road on the left side

 

Zero malfunctions zero damages zero flat tires ... thumbs up!

 

 

[Dave Williams]

Great report... I presume you have finished it? 

We would love to return ourselves and would definitely consider the same time of year you went but I have noticed the prices rise quite considerably! 

[Levante]

@Dave Williams, may be prices rise from you last trip, but be sure that in april are much more lower than september / october.

 

[xelas]

4 minutes ago, Dave Williams said:

Great report... I presume you have finished it? 

We would love to return ourselves and would definitely consider the same time of year you went but I have noticed the prices rise quite considerably! 

 

Just one more post, @Dave Williams! Thanks for reading along; it was our third trip in the same period, we like it very much. As for the prices, I have not noticed any considerable price rise. But this does depends on what accommodations you are looking for. More details by mail.

[xelas]

44 minutes ago, Levante said:

@Dave Williams, may be prices rise from you last trip, but be sure that in april are much more lower than september / october.

 

 

@Levante actually I wanted to Dislike your post ...  ... how will I visit Etosha in September 

Edited July 25, 2017 by xelas

[Dave Williams]

September/October definitely expensive in comparison when it comes to accommodation in and around Etosha but that's supply and demand setting the pace. To be honest we prefer to escape the UK winter so November to March are favoured months for our major holidays. Would push that to April for Namibia.... as long as I wasn't missing too many of my teams matches!

[Towlersonsafari]

Hurrah! a splendid report @xelas although I had to wait to read it again as the last time I read it England collapsed in the cricket. I am not exactly blaming you but........

[xelas]

1 minute ago, Towlersonsafari said:

I am not exactly blaming you but........

 

... but one never knows! to make the things even worse, I have no clue what cricket is about ... to my defence I don't understand baseball either .

To make it up to you, there will be another trip report end of September ... from Scotland . Hopefully there will be no important cricket game at that time  ??

 

And, thank you for reading this one. It is always a pleasure to share the trip with others, and even more pleasure when others actually do read it !

[Zim Girl]

@xelas

 

Great report - wonderful pictures as usual from Zvezda and fun to read narrative from you.

 

Looking forward to reading about Scotland.

 

 

[xelas]

8 minutes ago, Zim Girl said:

@xelas

 

Great report - wonderful pictures as usual from Zvezda and fun to read narrative from you.

 

Looking forward to reading about Scotland.

 

 

 

 

Thank You, @Zim Girl, for reading through all those pages, and photos! Once I was told a good photo story can be done with 100 photos ... obviously I am 7x lousier storyteller .

Edited July 25, 2017 by xelas

[janzin]

A great report with wonderful photos by both you and Zvezda, I've certainly enjoyed traveling along and its re-whetted my appetite for Namibia! Unfortunately its not a trip we'd ever be likely to self-drive (my misfortune to marry a guy who doesn't enjoy driving!) and neither of us are keen on camping, but I'm sure we'll get there at some point in some version. I'll be referring back to this as a reference, for sure.

[Towlersonsafari]

I enjoy your trip reports so much @xelas I'll even forgive you for mentioning cricket in the same breath as rounders sorry baseball!!! Have a great Scottish trip!

[xelas]

Day 24: About RTT, morning exercise, and Two Cats on a hot Tin Roof

 

Day 24 was actually the day that we have flown back home. Yet I feel obliged to discuss more about Roof Top Tents and related morning (and evening) exercises. Here it is, in 9 acts.

 

Act 1

 

Act 2

 

Act 3

 

Act 4

 

Act 5

 

Act 6

 

Act 7

 

Act 8

 

 

And what about the two cats and the roof?! Lets reveal the mystery, shall we?!

 

 

That is our story in 655 photos and some words. We have had great fun during the trip, and we thank you all past, present and future readers for each and every like! See you again in about 3 months. Bye, bye!

Edited July 25, 2017 by xelas