The Borneo Three do Namibia - September 2023

[kittykat23uk]

15.10.23- Day 22-  Spitzkoppe

 

Spitzkoppe Sunrise by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Spitzkoppe Sunrise by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Spitzkoppe Sunrise by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

It was sadly time to say goodbye to everyone today as I was heading home and the boys were heading on to their next stop, or at least they would have been if their fuel had arrived. The sunrise from  my room was spectacular. Once it got light enough I went for a walk. Some little bush birds were around including Layard's Warbler, Black-chested Prinia, Familiar Chat, Long-billed Crombec (Cape Crombec), Rosy-faced Lovebird, Lark-like Bunting.

 

Black-chested Prinia by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Tree by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Layard's Warbler by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Familiar Chat by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Long-billed Crombec (Cape Crombec) by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Rosy-faced Lovebird by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Rosy-faced Lovebird by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

We also had wonderful views of a pair of Black Mongooses darting around between the boulders close to the main lodge area. The fuel arrived so we all took a quick drive to the entrance gate to look for Klippspringer but we failed to see any. We did see South African Ground Squirrel or Damara Ground Squirrel (we’re not certain as apparently the main physical difference is their teeth colour). After that, I said goodbye to Jason and Jens as they wanted to leave earlier, and waited for my transfer. 

 

Black Mongoose by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Black Mongoose by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Black Mongoose by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Black Mongoose by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Black Mongoose by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Black Mongoose by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Black Mongoose by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Whilst waiting for my transfer I continued to bird, adding Chestnut-vented Warbler, Monteiro's Hornbill, Speckled Pigeon, Cape Sparrow, and also took a dip in the pool. 

My transfer arrived on time and it was a smooth trip to the airport. My flight was on time and I made my connection with time to spare. 

 

Lark-like Bunting by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

South African Ground Squirrel or Damara Ground Squirrel - Xerus princeps (uncertain) by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

South African Ground Squirrel or Damara Ground Squirrel - Xerus princeps (uncertain) by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Chestnut-vented Warbler by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Chestnut-vented Warbler by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Chestnut-vented Warbler by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Monteiro's Hornbill by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Monteiro's Hornbill by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Namib Rock Agama by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Rock Hyrax by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Rock Hyrax by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Speckled Pigeon by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Speckled Pigeon by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Rock Hyrax by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Cape Sparrow by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Spitzkoppen Lodge by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Spitzkoppe by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Spitzkoppe by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Spitzkoppen Lodge by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Spitzkoppen Lodge by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Things I missed
I was very surprised that we didn't see meerkats, I thought for sure they would be easy (I did see them well at Marrick on a previous trip to South Africa)! My friends found a lodge close to Windhoek where they are guaranteed- a lodge called Otjimbondona. Also the Sesriem area was really productive for the guys who did a night drive there with more aardwolves, brown hyena, another zorilla and all the foxes/jackals (sad I missed those bits). They also covered Walvis Bay and got three species of dolphin. 

 

Overall I saw 68 species of mammals on this trip out of a total for the whole tour of 74. I missed 4 species by not doing the extension with them (3 cetaceans and meerkat), as well as the side striped Jackal which only Jason saw well and Topi, which Jens and Jason both saw which I missed because of my side quest to see Pels Fishing Owl. I haven't even tried to work out how many birds we saw as it was a very mammal focused intensive trip. Other potential mammals that we hoped to see but didn’t were Caracal, Aardvark and some of the mongooses. But overall it was an outstanding trip and one I wouldn’t hesitate to do again!
 

[kittykat23uk]

Here's Jason's Trip report, which covers the extension he and Jens did as well as the rest of the trip: https://wildglobetours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Trip-Report-66-Namibia-2023.pdf

[Peter Connan]

A great trip to the end, but the desert sections are definitely more challenging if the focus is on wildlife rather than scenery.

 

My abiding memory of Namibia is how quickly and radically the terrain can change. One moment you are on what looks like a never-ending dry plain, the next you are in a canyon's kissing cousin!

 

Logistical question: did you not pass through Henties' Bay on your way to Spitzkoppe?

 

Thanks for taking us along.

Edited April 16 by Peter Connan

[kittykat23uk]

No, I don't believe we did. I would assume that our driver didn't feel the need to detour into the town itself, thinking that we had enough fuel at the time 🤔? Or maybe assumed there would be other places to stop en route, which there didn't seem to be! 😂 But yes for anyone considering this route it looks like that would have been a good option.. 

[Atravelynn]

 

 

Overall I saw 68 species of mammals on this trip out of a total for the whole tour of 74

 

I was wondering if you had a count.

 

But overall it was an outstanding trip and one I wouldn’t hesitate to do again!

 

I bet you would get some very eager takers.  Like me!

[Atdahl]

What a fantastic trip Jo!  Thanks for bringing all of us along. 

[offshorebirder]

Of all the amazing sightings, I think the Hedgehog is my favorite!

 

 

[xelas]

On 4/16/2024 at 11:31 AM, kittykat23uk said:

No, I don't believe we did. I would assume that our driver didn't feel the need to detour into the town itself, thinking that we had enough fuel at the time 🤔? Or maybe assumed there would be other places to stop en route, which there didn't seem to be! 😂 But yes for anyone considering this route it looks like that would have been a good option.. 

 

A note to any future driver: stop at EVERY gas station to top-up the tank and to buy the ice cream !

 

Myself not a fan of night drives I could change my attitude after your sightings! Overall they were awesome, kudos to your stamina. With long drives and having a driver, was it possible to catch up some lost sleep during the day?

Edited April 19 by xelas

[kittykat23uk]

Lol yeah a bit on some of the longer drives. But mostly just pushed through and I did pace myself and didn't go all out on the night drives (unlike Borneo) given that we had a lot of diurnal animals to see.

 

You'll see from Jason's report that he did even more nocturnal stuff than the rest of us and I missed out on his in camp honey badger at etosha which he followed for about an hour. I was a bit gutted about that to be honest.

 

I should add that although Jens was also willing to share the driving,  Jason chose to do all of the self driving elements throughout the tour. He also went out with the car on his own from time to time, such as after our full day drive in palmwag, that guy is a machine!! 

 

But having said that we did a lot more longer night spotlighting in Sri Lanka and that was far less rewarding or enjoyable to be honest, stay tuned for that report. 

 

 

Edited April 19 by kittykat23uk

[Peter Connan]

On 4/19/2024 at 7:04 PM, xelas said:

 

A note to any future driver: stop at EVERY gas station to top-up the tank and to buy the ice cream !

 

 

This is the most important part!

[Zubbie15]

Thanks for sharing @kittykat23uk, this report has really moved Namibia up on my list of places to go!