Apologies to my regular followers for not posting every day. The internet in the bush is slow and won’t even think of obliging to upload my photographs! My diary is up to date so I will post when I can. There probably won’t be another until I return to Struisbaai. Today I’m in Windhoek but then it’s The Kgalagdi where there’s no internet at all.
6 November 2018\
The picnic sites in Etosha are not great so we usually stop at a waterhole and have brekkie in the car. This can be tricky when it comes to pouring coffee and dishing out cereal but a chopping board, balanced on Pat’s file which just fits over the box of field guides makes a suitable table.
When we parked off at Groot Okvevi, there was not much to see except for a few doves and starlings taking the waters. We sat and watched for a while and then other birds appeared to entertain us. Then a dear little steenbok appeared and timidly took a drink before scampering off.
The Earl captured the reflection so beautifully
After that the action really began – we munched on cereal and boiled eggs while watching zebra. Then a family of four kudu emerged from the bushes and took turns to drink. They became very alert and then something frightened them and they sprang out of the water and further up the bank.
A pregnant hyena came loping down the from the thicket and plunged straight into the water. She sat down up to her neck and the other animals could only look on and hope she’d leave soon. But she was enjoying her bath and stayed for ages. Tony quipped – I think she’s planning a water birth!
We also enjoyed watching Namaqua and Burchell sandgrouse fly in to the water’s edge take a drink and then fly off again. This happens in waves and is fascinating to watch.
We spent about three hours just at this one waterhole. The hyena did eventually leave the water but she plopped down under a nearby tree and had a sleep in the shade. When we returned in the afternoon, she was back in the pond.
We went back to camp just before 11 and spent some time at the Camp Waterhole then rested till 2:30 when we went out again.
After stopping off to see our pregnant hyena we drove some roads and the highlights were at Tsumcar waterhole which is really popular with the in-crowd. Not sure what the waiting list here is but it’s always busy.
This warthog had fun rolling in the mud
We also enjoyed the shore birds
Marsh Sandpiper
Kitlitz Plover
We arrived at another waterhole just in time to see the elephants come down for their evening drink and bath.
Our day ended with a delicious chicken stir fry. Pat and I prepared the ingredients and Tony cooked it expertly on the Skottel.
Each camp in Etosha has a waterhole that you can visit any time of day or night. Before dinner we popped over to Namutoni’s Hide to watch the sun set. We did not braai tonight, but instead cooked chicken and vegetables in the Remoska Pot. It was an awesome end to a delightful day.
Adventuring into Retirement 