Kalagadi Transfrontier Park

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Kalahari

In May 2007 we went to the Kalagadi Transfrontier Park with friends. This was a lovely long trip.

First night stopover was at a lovely guest house on the banks of the Orange River.

The accommodation at Twee Rivieren showing the unique stone walls,

The first Gemsbok we saw.

Gemsbok on the top of the dune. This area is well known for its red sand dunes.

Gemsbok lying down.

Wildebeest seeking some shade.

Sunsets are special in the Kalahari.

Wildebeest.

Gemsbok on a dune.

Gemsbok - one with a bent horn.

The bird life is amazing. I think maybe these are begging - perhaps they have been fed before.

A mongoose looking to see if any food is on offer.

Crimson Breasted Shrike.

Yellow-throated Longclaw.

Animals on the pan.

Ground squirrel.

Outside our hut at Nossob with a friend who we had only met on the internet before through the Land Cruiser Club - Southern Africa (www.landcruiserclub.co.za).

Late afternoon at Nossob.

The track to Mabuasehube - we are on our way to lovely unfenced campsites in the open.

The track ahead - this continues for about a hundred kilometres.

Typical scenery along the way showing a pan.

Yippee we have arrived at Mpayathutlwa Pan in Mabuasehube - in Botswana.

Roof time.

Something must be there.

Must be!

There it is!

Another one! (Actually there was a pride around,)

Major attraction.

Ground squirrel looking on.

Under the shade at Mpayathutlwa Pan camp site.

The lions - I have attached a few pictures of them.

Sleepy time.

Hot today.

Yawn!

Yawn more!

Intent looking as another vehicle approaches.

A glance in our direction.

Sand Grouses taking on water. They have downy feathers which absorb water which they carry back to their chicks which can be many kilometres away in the bush.

Spotted Dikkop - quite well camouflaged.

Female Korhaan also quite well hidden.

We really like these tracks and could happily spend weeks driving on them.

Steenbokkie in the track.

Another Kalahari sunset.

Springbok.

Lovely track back to Nossob.

About to leave on the official 4x4 route from Nossob to Twee Rivieren in the South African side of the park.

The bush with gemsbok.

Two more lovely gemsbok.

A waterhole with a Gemsbok.

Springbok and a few Wildebeest.

Red Hartebeest on the dune.

Our tent which we used on this part of the trip. There is just enough space for two people but you can easily erect it and pack it again.

The group at breakfast time.

A Black Backed Jackal visiting.

A Whistling Rat.

The Jackal remained around until we left.

Another food scene.

Packing up in the morning.

Yellow flowers.

A Devil's Claw. This is the seed of a creeper and it can severely injure or even kill any animal unfortunate enough to step on it or get it locked on its muzzle.

Red Hartebeest.

On our way.

Pretty flower.

Sylvia holding an ostrich egg.

A creeper with its fruits.

The vehicles.

Another sunset.

Black Backed Jackal.

The bush showing the dunes covered with grass. There had been good rains.

The top of dune pose.

Ground Squirrel in front of her home.

More Devil's Claw seeds - note the different colour of the sand in this area from the other picture.

Spotted Eagle Owl - note the feathers that look like ears on top of its head.

Pink flower.

Scorpion hole - showing the footprints it left when it came out.

Tiny footprints.

Footprints and beetle tracks.

Ostrich footprint.

Kory Bustard footprint.

Dune vegetation.

Our camp spot for the night.

Our tent and the torch beam showing where the lion footprint landed the night before! The tent was closed as you see it in the picture - only a mosquito screen closed.