Kgalagadi January 2023: Clouds and cats and everything in between

[Tdgraves]

Day 12: Mata Mata morning drive, 24/1/23

 

It was cloudy and windy and so a pretty quiet drive. The temperature only went from 22 to 27 degrees. I had the 5D

 

7T4A5055 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5056 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5058 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

A stationary car told us that we had just missed a leopard . We followed fresh cheetah tracks for ages, but did not find them. Then a hyaena approached and we followed it to the waterhole, where it decided to have a bath

 

7T4A5081 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5083 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5088 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5100 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5101 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5104 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5113 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5116 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5123 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5131 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5141 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5145 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5154 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5162 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5177 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5216 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5239 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5240 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5246 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5253 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Then we found the lion pride, doing what lions do

 

7T4A5255 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5269 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5275 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

We also had our only brief sighting of a Cape fox, but unfortunately, no photos.

 

Edited November 18, 2023 by Tdgraves
typo

[Tdgraves]

Day 12: Mata Mata evening drive, 24/1/23

 

the sun had finally returned, but it was still cooler, only 29 degrees. The squirrels were keeping us amused in front of our chalet

 

7T4A5277 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5278 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

The lion pride were still at Craig Lockhart and we drove there with trepidation, wondering if we would be able to get any spot, let alone a good spot for photography, given that most vehicles from the two camps would be there. When we arrived, it was the most traffic we have ever experienced in the park. However, just as I pulled in, a truck reversed out of the best spot, parallel and right next to the waterhole and in the shade. I waited for it to leave, expecting several vehicles to jossle into it's spot, but nobody moved, so I just pulled up and parked! Who'd have thought it. *Government health warning - Lion overload*

 

7T4A5280 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5290 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5306 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5319 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5324 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5341 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5352 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

young lions watching the vehicles

 

7T4A5381 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

I was in the driver's seat and the OH had hopped into the back so that he was closer to the waterhole. We heard scratching and turned to the left, to see this....

 

7T4A5387 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

a lioness had climbed the dead tree next to us (which was providing some shade). Looking up at such a big cat through the passenger side window is not an experience I shall forget in a hurry. It also gave us a dilemma of which direction to point our camera!

 

7T4A5397 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5414 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5416 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5425 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5439 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5454 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5461 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5466 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5478 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5487 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5491 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5494 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5496 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5501 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5508 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

even more intimidating from this angle...

 

7T4A5510 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5513 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5528 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5543 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

this one, not so much!

 

7T4A5571 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5583 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5587 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5605 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5608 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5617 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

I did interrupt the lions for a couple of birds

 

7T4A5690 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5618 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6224 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6079 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

but not for long

 

7T4A5627 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5638 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5641 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5646 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5649 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5653 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5660 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5661 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

I deliberately kept part of the car in shot to see the proximity...

 

7T4A5665 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5668 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5672 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5675 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5679 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5689 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5694 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5704 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5708 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5719 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5751 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5759 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5772 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5784 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5795 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5796 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5814 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5817 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5826 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5861 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5904 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5922 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5934 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5942 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5952 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5963 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5966 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A5977 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6022 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6021 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6026 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6023 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6030 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6044 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6130 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

some mischief..

 

7T4A6135 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6141 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6143 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6150 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6155 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6165 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6193 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6198 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6235 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6251 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6269 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6276 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6277 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6281 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6288 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Time to hot foot it back to camp in time for gates closing 

[janzin]

You weren't kidding, that's a lot of lion!  But no complaints, fabulous photos. I love this one:

 

[Tdgraves]

probably our best KTP lion sighting and one of our best ever, given our position, that there were so many of them and they were so active. Thanks I really like this one too!

11 hours ago, janzin said:

You weren't kidding, that's a lot of lion!  But no complaints, fabulous photos. I love this one:

Edited November 13, 2023 by Tdgraves

[kittykat23uk]

And I was worried that my Namibia trip would be lion overload 😂🦁🦁🦁🦁

[soleson]

Some great lion shots.  It is great when they cooperate nicely.  I like this one.  The eye focus is so sharp.  You can even see what looks like a tick just below the ear.  It reminds me I need to get to KTP...

 

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @kittykat23uk and @soleson

[Zim Girl]

Fabulous set of lion pictures - lots of favourites in there!

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @Zim Girl

[Tdgraves]

Day 13: Mata Mata morning drive transfer to Twee Rivieren gate, 25/1/23

 

It was sunnier today but only went from 22 to 27 degrees. It was still windy and so quite quiet. I had the 1D. As our ultimate destination was Upington, it made sense to pack up and do a game drive transfer, otherwise we would have just been doubling back on ourselves. I have written down that we saw a pair of cheetah, but there is not even a proof shot, so I guess they must have been far away...

 

J19A6464 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I5038 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I5047 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I5059 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I5063 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I5067 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I5069 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I5081 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I5092 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I5096 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I5120 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I5125 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I5133 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6349 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6362 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6374 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

We had a picnic breakfast at Twee Rivieren. This one wanted some too!

 

J19A6486 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

J19A6491 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

and this kite was at reception - our last sighting of this visit.

 

J19A6494 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Tyres reinflated we were off to Upington. Very variable weather, fewer birds than normal, 10 cheetah sightings (quite a lot at distance) 8 lion sightings and a fleeting glimpse of a leopard...

[offshorebirder]

@Tdgraves - your prodigious output shames those of us who are laggards in the T.R. department.   Inadvertently and politely of course.

 

 

[Peter Connan]

Wow!

I don't think you ever need to point a camera at a lion again. After this, nothing will be good enough excepting perhaps if it poses on the back of an elephant!

 

The same pretty much goes for Spotted Thick-knee too.

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @offshorebirder and @Peter Connanthe thick knees really show the value of that lens I think.

we are off to Kenya on Sunday, so probably will worth pointing a camera at some….

[Tdgraves]

Day 13: African Vineyard, Kanoneiland, Orange River

 

We stay on an island in the Orange River which is an oasis after spending two weeks in the desert. The OH had an upset stomach after a chocolate milkshake, so I left him to rest and wandered around the gardens. It was amazing how much work they had done since our last visit two years previously. There was a larger outdoor seating area where the entrance gate used to be and most excitingly for me, a raised platform to look out over the vineyard towards the river. The gardens are usually very abundant with birds and this time was no exception.

 

In the vineyard

 

7T4A6381 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6383 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6397 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6403 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6409 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6408 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6426 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6443 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6448 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6455 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6465 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6492 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6499 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6501 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6502 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6510 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6515 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6526 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6531 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6546 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6563 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6569 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6584 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

We had a lovely dinner and were pleased to see more guests than we have ever seen before, which is good for the business. Early to bed as we were driving to Cape Town in the morning.

[offshorebirder]

12 hours ago, Tdgraves said:

The gardens are usually very abundant with birds and this time was no exception.

 

Any garden with two species of Barbet (as shown in @Tdgraves photos) is OK in my book.

[Tdgraves]

On 11/15/2023 at 2:37 AM, offshorebirder said:

 

Any garden with two species of Barbet (as shown in @Tdgraves photos) is OK in my book.

It's a lovely spot

 

Day 14 was just a drive to Cape Town. It was uneventful and we made very good time. I was hoping to get a half day birding in, but our friends were very keen to show off the area, so this wasn't really possible. Day 15 was wine tasting at Graff in Stellenbosch which was amazing, great wine, a stunningly beautiful site with lovely gardens and sculptures, but very few birds...

 

7T4A6605 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6608 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

We then went for lunch in Franschoek, somewhere we haven't been in years. It was unseasonably hot. Then more tasting at Rickety bridge. There were a few birds here and sighting of the day was a jackal taking a guineafowl, as we sat on the terrace!

 

7T4A6619 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6633 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

and a couple of birds around their house

 

7T4A6595 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6604 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6656 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6662 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

The heat in combination with lunch and all of the wine meant an early night for all!

[michael-ibk]

Really great photography, those waterholes were super productive for you. Love the four Cheetah and the hunting Jackal especially. Have a fantastic trip to Kenya!

Edited November 18, 2023 by michael-ibk

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @michael-ibk

[Tdgraves]

Day 16: Stellenbosch to home

 

The morning was approaching a bird walk. We went to the Dylan Lewis sculpture garden and saw a few birds (and sculptures).

 

7T4A6727 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6750 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6761 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6770 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6784 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6788 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6688 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6689 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6690 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6737 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6740 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6741 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6781 by tdgraves, on Flickr#

 

7T4A6790 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A6794 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

We then had lunch in Stellenbosch and it was time to pack and make our way to the airport. The flight home was uneventful.

 

[TonyQ]

Excellent report, thank you very much for posting 

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @TonyQ