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

January 6, 2019

50 minutes ago, Tom Kellie said:

from one who knows better.

Not only did you pass, but you've taught the instructor! Many thanks

I am honoured that you may think so Mzee.

Edited January 6, 2019 by Galana
correction of spelling.

January 8, 2019

Day 6, transfer to Kalahari Tented Camp

As we had 4 hours to travel about 50km, we took a leisurely drive south to the picnic site for our breakfast, before doing a U turn to slowly get to camp. It was starting to get cloudy and only 20 degrees. We went around all of the loops.

We did see a booted eagle at a waterhole, but the photos are not great. We arrived in camp just before 2pm and got to our room to unpack.

January 8, 2019

Day 6, evening drive from KTC, 20/9/18

We decided to do a drive, even though the cold front was even closer. Not many other people did....

We decided to sit at Craig Lockhart and see if the spotted cat would reappear. And we waited and waited. The OH was just getting itchy feet, when this one turned up. I saw it climb the tree in my side mirror and thought it was the leopard (as that was what I was expecting) however, it was a much smaller cat..

So we got our waterhole cat, just not the one we hoped for! We rushed back to camp, as we were worried that it would rain and we didn't want to get stuck with no other vehicles about!

January 10, 2019

Day 7, morning drive, 21/9/18

It was still pretty cloudy and that meant it was a bit warmer getting out of bed today, 9 degrees. I had the 7D. First sighting was a glimpse of an African wild cat, but no chance of a photo. The next two are from the OH, who had both a better position in the car and a better camera for low light..

Another brief glimpse of felines, a coalition of 4 cheetah off on their morning duties. Our first for the trip.

We had a lovely bat eared fox sighting, first a family of three who were wary...

and then a pair who were anything but (again courtesy of the OH, as I was busy driving and trying to get the best position)

The sun did eventually come out

more from the OH

Not far from camp I was pleased to see a Gabar goshawk close and very surprised when it was joined by its' mate

back to camp for breakfast, but not much of a rest, as there was construction work going on...

January 10, 2019

Lovely sightings!

January 11, 2019

The noise from the construction work must have been an good incentive to go back out on a drive. Even though it is a common bird, l do like the photograph of the bee eater.

January 11, 2019

27 minutes ago, CDL111 said:

The noise from the construction work must have been an good incentive to go back out on a drive

Thanks @CDL111 we hoped it would stop at the weekend, but if did not

January 12, 2019

Day 7, evening drive, 21/9/18

It had got back up to normal temperature, 31 degrees, but still quite cloudy. We encountered a tiny car that was stick in the worst part of the road, but they were receiving help. It was a very quiet drive otherwise. These are all courtesy of the OH...

The previous evening when making the braai, an inquisitive genet was standing on its' back legs trying to see what was cooking and whether it could get hold of any, so this night, I was prepared with my camera, although it was very dark, so this is the best I managed...

January 13, 2019

Day 8, morning drive, 22/9/18

It was 6 degrees when we set off and at least 4 vehicles had left camp before us, despite being 5 mins or so before gate opening time. There was therefore a bit of traffic. Usually this wouldn't matter, but there were a couple of sections of deep sand on corners where it was essential to maintain a good speed in order not to get stuck, so it was a bit stressful when one of these vehicles decided to to use creeping game viewing speed, the likes of such you sometimes encounter in the Kruger. We overtook as soon as we were able. Our first sighting was the coalition of cheetahs again, for a bit longer this time. They had been resting next to the road and the traffic had woken them up. I had the 5D today.

and some from the OH on the 7D, who was closer

Next up was another meerkat colony

and some birds...

The OH was driving now and I made him reverse, as I somehow spotted this as we went past...

As we got nearer to Craig Lockhart, there was a queue of parked cars coming from the north. The vehicle at the head of the queue was leaving as we arrived and helpfully told us that there was a leopard resting in the shade of the bushes. We had inadvertently got to the front of the queue by approaching from the opposite direction! No sooner had I jumped into the back seat and opened the window, then she got up and walked straight towards us!! what timing. I'm sure that the parked cars were not so impressed...

She then stopped right in front of us and posed for a while

one from the front of the car on the 7d

She then crossed in front of us and disappeared into the dunes...

Not a bad drive!!

January 14, 2019

On 1/13/2019 at 2:37 PM, Tdgraves said:

Not a bad drive!!

Not a bad leopard either !

January 14, 2019

Magnificent sighting!

January 14, 2019

Impressive sequence of photographs. Surprised the OH is allowed to borrow the 7D!

January 14, 2019

Thanks @xelas @Peter Connan And @CDL111

we alternate the cameras each day!

January 14, 2019

How fortunate to have such fantastic sightings during one morning!!! The Kgalagadi is full of surprises!

Thank you, @Tdgraves.

January 15, 2019

Day 8, evening drive 22/9/18

It was really hot again, 37 degrees and very quiet. Most of these are from the OH...

and that was that!

January 15, 2019

Day 9, Morning drive, 23/9/18

As the other vehicles had been let out a bit early yesterday, we thought we'd try the same today, to get ahead of the crowds. As it had been cloudy it was a mild 11 degrees as we left and was eerily quiet. In fact, we got as far as the 14th waterhole without seeing much of note. However, as we rounded the bend, we were greeted with the sight of 4 sleepy lions and had the sighting to ourselves for ages, before finally a couple of other vehicles appeared.

There were three females and a young male

Time for a drink...

This lioness had heard or smelt something....

and it was a good while before I could see what, or rather who....

They clearly shouldn't have been where they were. I have never seen an anxious lion before, but they were off....

He was the last to realise that retreat was required

The big male decided that enough was enough. I have also not seen a lion at full tilt before....

and they were off over the dune! I think that there were only 4 or 5 cars to witness this, although a couple arrived to see them go over the dunes. Finally a decent lion sighting. Next up was a family of 4 bat eared foxes, but they were in too much bush for photos

We had to get back to camp to pack up and move on to Twee Rivieren. We had a brief sighting of the 4 cheetah on a dune before we got back to camp

It was 24 degrees when we got back and made breakfast for our next journey.

January 15, 2019

lovely lion sighting-I think we saw the same foursome-or fivesome in our case, and male lion or two around Craig lockhart a month later-so perhaps the small pride are dodging the big male?

January 15, 2019

What a great lion sighting!

January 16, 2019

The lion chase brings back memories, we had the very good fortune to see one in Botswana at Little Kwara in 2003, l am sure that it is something that will stay in your memory for the rest of your life.

January 20, 2019

I couldn't remember where I left off so I started at the beginning again...loving this TR. I laughed out loud, again, at the first set of jackal photos. I swear that one of the group looks like an OH coming in and yelling at the OH..."you promised a meal, and here you are, with nothing.....I should have stuck with your cousin".....or something like that.....really made me laugh. And OMG- baby meerkats....I'm sitting here talking to myself "it's a baby meerkat.....oh, it's 3 baby meerkats". Luckily I live alone so no one thinks I'm nuts :). As so many have also said, so sorry about the furbaby- lost one of my own this past year....thinking 2018 wasn't great for our "kids" Glad to hear you are thinking about getting a kitten. Another wonderful home to a well deserving kit. Ok- off to read more....

February 5, 2019

On 1/20/2019 at 12:23 AM, lmonmm said:

I couldn't remember where I left off so I started at the beginning again...loving this TR. I laughed out loud, again, at the first set of jackal photos. I swear that one of the group looks like an OH coming in and yelling at the OH..."you promised a meal, and here you are, with nothing.....I should have stuck with your cousin".....or something like that.....really made me laugh. And OMG- baby meerkats....I'm sitting here talking to myself "it's a baby meerkat.....oh, it's 3 baby meerkats". Luckily I live alone so no one thinks I'm nuts :). As so many have also said, so sorry about the furbaby- lost one of my own this past year....thinking 2018 wasn't great for our "kids" Glad to hear you are thinking about getting a kitten. Another wonderful home to a well deserving kit. Ok- off to read more....

thanks @lmonmm here are the kittens...got them on Saturday