Kgalagadi Sept 2018: long drives and at long last a leopard!

[Peter Connan]

What a lovely jackal sighting!

[shazdwn]

Great start to the trip report, looking forward to the rest

[Big_Dog]

And what a beauty the leopard is! Also great you got a 'Kgalagadi classic' of the dove hunting jackals too, even if unsuccessful. Surprised to hear Kgalagadi is so hard to get accommodation for too, it's somewhere I've long wanted to visit so good to know I'll have to be quick when i eventually do.
Sorry to hear about your pet also! Never easy!

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @Peter Connan @shazdwn And @Big_Dog

don’t get to disheartened, booking is much easier at other times of the year - definitely worth the hassle....

[Tdgraves]

Day 2, evening drive, 16/9/18

 

We decided to go south on this drive and it was very hot, up to 37. There was not much between holes, but at Kaspersdraai, we found this bataleur

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And just like that, it was time to make our way back to camp. Someone in front of us had pulled into Rooikop, so we followed

 

 

Courtesy of the OH who was driving and therefore nearer the action...

 

 

 

 

Back for a braai...

[Zim Girl]

@Tdgraves  Really very sorry to hear about the loss of your cat, I sympathise as I know how hard it is to get over but I am glad you are starting to feel better.

 

Love the jackal sequences, especially the ones with the doves.

 

[Tdgraves]

On 12/11/2018 at 12:52 PM, Zim Girl said:

@Tdgraves  Really very sorry to hear about the loss of your cat, I sympathise as I know how hard it is to get over but I am glad you are starting to feel better.

 

 

Thanks @Zim Girl had a dream about kittens last weekend.....

[Tdgraves]

Day 3, morning drive, 17/9/18

 

It was only 3 degrees as we awoke this day and again we decided to go north. I had the 7D . We ended up in a prime position at Kwang and settled in to enjoy the show.

 

 

I thought I'd have a go at some arty motion blur first

 

 

 

The jackal was hunting again today

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The OH was luckier with his shot...

 

 

breakfast!

 

 

We went further north and got a good sighting of a Brandt's whistling rat at the side of the road

 

 

 

 

and of course we found some birds...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We stopped at Cubitje Qaap for a while as the finches were drinking. This gave a Lanner falcon lots of chances to get breakfast and us lots of chances catching it getting breakfast...

 

 

 

It got to a much nicer 27 degrees by the time we were back in camp for breakfast.

[lmSA84]

Really good report and I have to say that I think these are some of your best photos. You must be really pleased with the quality 

[Tdgraves]

13 minutes ago, lmSA84 said:

Really good report and I have to say that I think these are some of your best photos. You must be really pleased with the quality 

 

thanks @lmSA84 there is always something that you think you can improve. of course the uploading process leads to a reduction in IQ anyway. The weather deteriorated after Nossob and so conditions became more trying...maybe you could pass judgement at the end of the TR?? I have certainly learnt more of the (lack of) capabilities of the 7D2, but hit the sweet spot and it really can deliver...

[Towlersonsafari]

I do like the jackel peering over th dge and of course the splendid Whistling Rat  @Tdgraves

[michael-ibk]

Some awesome Jackal action shots, bravo! And a great capture of the Lanner as well. Very sorry to learn about your cat - I think your dreams are right!

[xelas]

Lanner Falcon with a prey is my favourite shot from this last group. And jackals are all good, @Tdgraves

 

[Peter Connan]

Lanner and jackal with prey! Well done!

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @Towlersonsafari @Peter Connan @xelas And @michael-ibk

[penolva]

So very sorry to hear about your cat. It took me two years after my Charlie died before I could adopt another one but she is a darling. It's difficult to live without a cat once you have had one.

 

Have been to KTP in September and that is quite hot for that time of year. Did you get the winds that often arrive after high temperatures? The hottest we had was in February 40+. We have been 4 times and only glimpsed a leopard. The photograph is lovely. Such a beautiful face. I also empathise with the difficulty booking and especially for the August/September time. I wish they would stop splitting those months as it causes all sorts of problems. For future reference, there is a lo-call you can use for SA from the UK that only costs 1p per minute. 0843 230 0123. You just dial the SA number when prompted. Pen

[Tdgraves]

Day 3, evening drive, 17/9/18

 

thanks @penolva no not windy whilst we were there

 

That afternoon it got hot again,up to 35 degrees. We went north again and only made it as far as Cubitjie Qaap, where several vehicles had already taken the prime (and shaded) spots. There were two bateleurs washing when we got there, so we tentatively approached alongside. The adult flew off, leaving this juvenile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And that was it!

[shazdwn]

Love the hunting jackal shots

[Feliz]

Lovely jackal shots

[The_Norwegian]

very nice indeed! 

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @The_Norwegian @shazdwn And @Feliz

[CDL111]

The photographs of the adult bateleur are stunning. I need more practice to get anywhere near your standard.

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @CDL111

[Tdgraves]

Day 4, morning drive, 18/9/18 

 

This was our last drive from Nossob and again it was 3 degrees when we set off. I had the 5D today. As we were transferring south later, we chose to go north. We spent a long time at Kwang again...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today's hunter was a pale chanting goshawk, who was relentless. Backwards and forwards, backwards and forwards, giving us lots of opportunities...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Missed!

 

 

It had a couple of techniques, including this one, of creeping up on the doves

 

 

 

 

They seemed much less alert to the threat of the goshawk, compared with when the Lanner or jackal were hunting

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had to get going, so that we could check out and drive to Mata Mata, it was only 21 degrees when we got back.

[TonyQ]

A great Goshaw sequence, seeing the different hunting methods, and so well captured by you.