Lack of WiFi and cellphone signal has been the cause of no post over the last day or so. We are also experiencing an issue in that emails go out to some subscribers but not all of them and we can’t figure out why. The blog is posted on templetravels.co.za if you didn’t get it. Last night we also had a large thunderstorm and that seemed to further disrupt any connectivity we did have.
Yesterday we drove west from Okaukeujo toward Dolomite camp. We didn’t drive the whole way there (that would be over 100 kms) but just did a loop. Game seems very sparse at the moment in Etosha. They say it is because it is so wet and so the game doesn’t need to congregate around the waterholes. We can attest to it being wet. There are puddles on the roads (and in some cases it feels like dams on the road). Today we found three teals swimming in one of the puddles on the road (that gives you an illustration of the amount of water). All this has meant that yesterday we only saw hyena on the morning drive (plus the standards of zebra, giraffe, springbok, gemsbok, wildebees, impala). We spent some time midday at the waterhole and then went out late afternoon for another drive. The bird life has been impressive though and we added 18/19 birds yesterday to our trip list (H got one more than me and extended her lead now to 6 – I was just too tired to sit at the waterhole when she saw it).
We did see a large flock (like in the hundreds – not exaggerating) of Abdim’s Storks. They apparently congregate and feed on terminates. They were all moving together through a field eating the termites as they just up into the air. It looked like an efficient vacuuming operation. First time we have seen that in our lives (and also haven’t seen so many Abdim’s storks together before either).
By the time we got back to the camp yesterday evening the wind had picked up and the storm clouds were brewing. Just managed to get the braai done and supper eaten before the rain came. We made a trip to the waterhole as it was only raining very lightly but while we were there it became perpetually heavier. Walking back to our chalet gave us a free shower!
This morning it was still raining when we woke up so we decided to eat breakfast at the camp (it is included in the accommodation price) and then head off afterwards. It was a good call as the rain abated after breakfast but it was still relatively cool (22 degrees). We headed to the east toward Halali (another camp) which is about 70 kms away. We got there at about 11:30am and by that time the clouds had broken up and it was starting to heat up. We saw jackal on the morning drive (of the more unusual game to see) but nothing else too different but we did add another lifer taking us 15 lifers for the trip. The most unusual sighting though today was at one of the waterholes we saw 2 blue cranes. The bird app doesn’t even list them as being seen in the area but they were definitely blue cranes (H said ‘I know our national bird’). I have now seen 173 unique birds for the trip and H is on 179.
We will just take it easy this afternoon and stay in the camp. H is actually at the waterhole now while I type. She sent me a text message to say that all the storks are at the waterhole at camp today.
Until tomorrow (wifi dependent)
P & H
