Day 23 Etosha National Park Day 2 of 3 (where's my leopard)

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Photo Album: Etosha National Park Day 2
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Early, just after the sun was poking above the horizon, I was out of the gates of Namutoni, started my second day of self drive safari in Etosha.

The plan for the day, was to drive west, explore some of the side tracks on the southern side of the main Etosha Salt Pan, and settle in for the day at the midway camp, Halali.

Not far down the main road, I saw a familiar SUV parked by the wrong side of the road, then I realised it was the professional Botswanan photographer I met at Von Lindequist gate yesterday.  As I approached, he waved to signal slowing down.  I stopped next to him, with windows down, with a hushing gesture, he pointed into the grassland in front....."cheetah".

All lights in my brain lit...."wow"....but looking on, I could not make out anything, until he showed me in his camera....so well camouflaged !  It must be 200m or more away.

Lying down, chewing on something, apparently had just made a kill of an impala, the photographer told me.

I was thrilled to be seeing a cheetah in the wild.... and was glad that my camera was up to the job after blowing up the images.

It was also an eye opener to see how a wild live professional photographer works and his setup in mounting the camera in the car etc.

We looked on for another 20 minutes or so, but the cheetah just munched on and looked at us warily every so often, so I decided to move on.  By this time, a few other cars had already joined us.

My next stop was at Koinachas Waterhole.  I was not expecting much, when I was here yesterday, there was only a lone gemsbok around.

But when I saw there were already 2 or 3 safari open trucks that were with camera flashing tourists standing up, I sensed that it must be something really interesting.

And here they were,

a large pack of lions, having an early morning picnic by the water.....and the cubs were all having fun of their own,

and the birds were watching on the side.

Two mud covered juveniles play fighting...

and the males were contented just to lay back, and watched on, from the rear,

or snoozing....

It was really an experience of another dimension, seeing their fun playful side.

There were quite a number of cars and trucks gathering around the waterhole, however, everyone was quite courteous and try not to block someone else's view.

Further on, I had a small foray into the Salt Pan side of the main road, 

And here are some of the wild lives...

Then I headed into some of the southern side-tracks, see what I discovered roaming through the bushes, a rare rhino.  I slowly stalked it for a few hundred meters.

At midday, it was time to check into Halali Camp, another tourist resort look alike,

with many choice of accommodations, a fuel station, restaurants, swimming pool etc.  Not surprisingly, it was hard to book, I booked my camp site over 6 weeks ago.

and my camp site.

 After fueling up, I first headed into some other southern bushy side-tracks, 

Before heading back into the safety of Halali Camp ahead of sunset, I had one last foray into the endless Etosha Salt Pan.

What a perspective of desolation !!

I had an early dinner, so that I could go watching animals at the waterhole at the rear of Halali Camp.

It was already dark, when I got there, a big spot light was on, but just barely good enough.  And a rhino was already there. I thought tonight is going to be my lucky night !

I was then informed by others that I just missed a leopard, which strolled pass and had a good drink. My luck, or the lack of it !!  Would it return...?!!!! 

Anyhow, over the ensuing hour, there were quite a few animals coming over for their night drink. And there were regular frog choruses as well.

Here is probably a Civet Cat...

A hyena ?????????

A Black-Backed Jackal,

As the night drawn on for another hour, I decided my luck tonight is not on the side of seeing a leopard, so it was time to retire.  Sad but true, still no luck with sighting a leopard....!!

Here is the footprint of my second day in Etosha National Park.

During dinner, I was talking to a group of South Africans traveling in their 4x4 campers camping next to me, much the same as any other Aussie groups in the Australian Outbacks.  They were mostly from Durban, and told me that even they regard Johannesburg as too dangerous, when I recounted the nasty holdup on my first day there.  I was so touched when a young couple came over, and gave me a very nice packet of Macadamia Nuts, as a token of assurance that not all of South Africa was like that.  Very touched.

Next Post : Etosha National Park Day 3  ( Lions' middy quickie )