Category Archives: Karoo National Park

Gecko Road Trip October 2024 Day 3,4 and 5 Karoo National Park

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Wednesday 16 October 2024 to Friday, 18 October 2024

We spent three lovely days exploring the Karoo National Pak. On Wednesday, the weather started off cool but warmed up beautifully as the day progressed. Thursday, was very hot and we did not spend much time out. Today, Friday, started off quite cool but by the afternoon it was hot again.

On Tuesday we took the Klipspringer and Potlekkertjie Loop. We didn’t spot any klipspringers but we did encounter Grey Rhebok on the Potlekkertjie loop.
We stopped at the Doornhoek Picnic site for breakfast and a loo break.

Once again we were intrigued by the wonderland of ancient rock formations dating back to the Permian Period. Millions of years ago dinosaurs roamed these plains.

Below is a list of the creatures we encountered: the first group consists of mammals, and the second group comprises birds.

‘Mom who are those strange looking primates:” “Distant cousins, dear – pay them no attention – they’re the nasty side of the fmily’

We heard and saw a number of birds but of course, most of them did not stop to pose for their portraits. Thanks to those who indulged the Paparazzi. The Verreaux’s eagles were the highlight of the day. I spotted them when I stopped to look at pale-winged starlings. We got out at the viewpoint but could not see them from there so went back to just before that and got some reasonable shots.

Over the next two days, we saw much of the same, and I will let the photos below tell the story.

On Thursday, we popped in at Bulkraal Picnic Site near the gate and were impressed with the facilities. On Wednesday and Friday, we had our breakfast at Doornhoek Picnic Site, which is on the Potlettertjie Loop.

There is always some bird activity at picnic sites and Bulkraal did not disappoint.

Baboons are always so amusing and this morning as we were coming around the bend of we encountered a troop using the wall as a lookout. They were not impressed with us and one clung to the grooves in the wall hoping we would not spot him.

The birds were particularly active today but not all would pose for the Paparazzi. We had a stunning sighting of two secretary birds. One was in a tree and another flew in to say hi to him and then they scurried away at great speed making photography extremely difficult. The photos are simply too bad to be published! Below are the more obliging of the feathered friends.

Very common and very pretty – Cape Sparrow

These female ostriches camouflage so well. We wonder if they’re sitting on eggs?

The mammals also gave us some lovely Kodak Moments.

Mountain zebras are particularly photogenic

A Grey Rhebok surprised us on the road and leaped off into the bush but we still managed to get some shots of him.

This afternoon, we packed as much as we could for our departure tomorrow. In the evening, we dined at the camp’s restaurant. Earl, Cathy, and Alec savored the oxtail potjie, while I indulged in the venison potjie—sorry, Bambi!

And it looks like this will be my last post on WordPress as I have run out of free space. I will have to think about what I am going to do – give up blogging or set up a paid space.

Gecko Roadtrip October 2024 – Day 2 Oudtschoorn to Karoo National Park

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We awoke to clear blue skies this morning, but it was still fairly chilly. I dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt. We were all up by 7:30 and went to the Kleinplaas restaurant for breakfast. You could choose from a full buffet of cereals, yogurt, fruit, eggs, bacon, etc., or have a plated health breakfast of cereal, yogurt, fruit, or bacon and eggs. Earl and I had bacon and eggs while Cathy and Alec settled for the health.

At around 09:00 we left to make the two and a half hour drive to Karoo National Park. Once again we enjoyed another beautiful mountain pass. Swartberg Pass starts from the quaint village of De Rust. What an amazing feat of human engineerng this pass is. Imagine the Voortrekkers of old having to make their way across these majestic mountains in their ox wagons. What amazingly brave and tough people these men and women were.

Day 2 Journey – Oudtschoorn to Karoo National Park near Beaufort West

The road has dramatic twists and bends and the scenery is magnifcent. The sheer rock faces in hues of grey and red are interspersed with lush green pockets of vegetation that miraculously sprout from the dry, stony earth. Once over the pass the landscape becomes typically semi-desert with scattered trees and scrub and the lovely low flat topped mountains and koppies.

Although the skies were clear and blue there was a nip in the air and the wind was blowing. When we entered the park the gate guard told us that it was summer last week but now winter had returned!

I love the colour of the Karoo and the park displays the tapestry of ochres, rusty reds and deep orange in its rocks and soil. The vegetation is a show of different shades of mauves, pinks, browns, greens and yellows.

After checking in we found two lovely sites next each other and soon set up camp. The fascilities are stunning. Everything is neat and well maintained. There is a camp kitchen and a laundry and the ablution block is spotlessly clean.

We spent the afternoon in camp and enjoyed the birds and animals that don’t mind sharing their habitat with humans.

I strongly disapprove of feeding the wildlife but I am sure there are people wno do otherwise why would a beautiful kudu female feel so comfortable among us? She visited us today and it was extremely tempting to offer her a carrot or some cabbage but I would not allow The Earl to give in to his emotions. You can see from the photographs how tame this creature is. She visits the campsite often but is truly wild and goes to join her kudu friends once she’s greeted everyone in camp.

Kgalagadi Adventure – Karoo National Park

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Friday 25 August 2023 Twee Rivieren to Prieska

This morning we left Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and made our way to Prieska where we would spend the night.

The Kalahari is the traditional home of the Koisan and there are still a few who follow this traditional lifestyle. As we made our way we saw a few Koisan on the side of the road

We arrived at Gariep Country Lodge Caravan Park at around 2 p.m., settled in, and then went to find a place to have a snack. A lovely coffee shop served us a quiche and toasted sandwiches.

In the evening we went to the lodge next door to our campsite and had a delicious supper there.

Saturday 26 August 2023 Prieska to Karoo National Park

The next leg of our journey took us to Karoo National Park near Beaufort West. We stopped for breakfast at The Old Mill Coffee Shop in Britstown. We have been there before and we always enjoyed the quaint decor.

There was plenty of parking for the caravans

Unfortunately, the owner of the establishment was not there this time. She had left just one staff member to do the serving and the cooking. Consequently, we had quite a long wait and as it was very cold at that hour the coffee and the food were served at a temperature that was a little too cool.

Previously the service and food were a lot better but nevertheless, it is still a lovely place to stop if ever you are in the area.

Travelling from Prieska to Karoo National Park was quite pleasant with roads in pristine condition and the views were lovely.

We are always complaining about the trucks on the road and bemoaning the fact that the railways are non-functional. So imagine our surprise and joy when we spotted a working train!

It was still chilly when we arrived at Karoo National Park and it did not warm up at all today.

The first creatures to greet us – Red Hartebeest

The Mountain Zebras looked at us with curiosity

When we arrived at the campsite we spotted another Gecko. It was number 31 – Bill and Monica who were on their way to Namaqualand after visiting Mountain Zebra. On their way back to KZN they will visit Addo.

As it was the weekend and Karoo National Park had a promotion the campsite was quite full. We found two spots next to each other opposite Bill and Monica so we were in good company.

This caravan park is pristine and the facilities are first-class. We’d decided that as we were low on supplies we would have our dinners at the restaurant and the food there was excellent. We recommend the Lamb Potjie which is served with delicious vegetables and your choice of chips, rice, wedges, or mash.

Sunday 27 August 2023 Karoo Nationa Park

It was below zero when we awoke this morning but unlike yesterday it warmed up beautifully. During the night Earl and I heard the lions roaring but when we went in search of them this morning we were not in luck. However, Alec and Cathy spotted a lovely male.

We were delighted with the sightings we did have, especially as far as birds were concerned.

An Ostrich with red legs means he is in the mood for love

The highlight of our morning drive was seeing some ostrich pornography!

Spring had arrived in the Karoo and the beauty of the veld reminded me of a song, Lentelidjie, by C Louis Leipoldt, that I learned as a child.

Here are the first few lines:-

Al die veld is vrolik

Al die voeltjies sing

Al die kriekies kriek daarbuite

Elke sprinkhaan spring.

Loosely translated this means that all the veld is cheerful, all the birds are singing, all the crickets are chirping and the grasshoppers are hopping.

Basically, the poem/song goes on to describe the beauty of spring.

The spring flowers really made the veld look cheerful. I have no idea what the names of the flowers are – except for the daisies!

The birds were certainly singing and showing themselves beautifully.

I think this is a Karoo Chat – Please correct me if I’m wrong.

A Southern Fiscal – Note this one does not have an eyestripe like those in Kgalagadi

On a small pond, we found this female Shelduck

And then there were the mammals.

A cute female Steenbok wondered what we were staring at.

The baboons were nervous of people which is a good thing!

We did a long morning drive and then a very short one in the afternoon just in case the lions appeared. They did not but we had some lovely last-minute sightings.