Day 24 Etosha National Park Day 3 of 3 (Lions midday quickie )

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Photo Album: Ethosha National Park Day 3
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On the third day in Etosha, instead of getting out early from Halali Camp, I decided to go to the waterhole viewing platform to try my luck. The sun had not come out yet, and the spot light was still on, and the water hole was empty.

Shortly later, I was joined by a couple who were there with me the night before.  They pointed to the section of the fence below, with a dead tree next to it, and described how a leopard jumped over the fence and into our "Green Zone" from the tree, last night !!  Last night? yes, just after I left.....yes, it did cause a bit of excitement amongst the few people who were present.  But the beast just walked pass them and disappeared into the bush somewhere, inside the "Green Zone" !

Wow,  never mind my lack of luck to see it first hand ( !! ), but the thought of having such a predator in the camp during the night, is beyond believe.  There had been no alarm raised, nor were there any disturbance inside my area of the camping ground during the entire night !!

Anyway, what to worry...I kept my camera ready, and waited...

But for nearly an hour, all I saw was two flocks of Guinea Chickens, coming out from the bush, chit chatting to each other, just like a bunch of village folks greeting each other in the morning....

Then they all disappeared...so it was time to go, out there to explore the western parts of Etosha.

Right out of the gate, this little Black-backed Jackal was peeping through the grasses, pacing away...

A further few kilometers, on the track, this lonely springbok, must be looking for her mum....

She must have been part of this pack not too far away...

Not much in this waterhole....

So let's go out to the salt pan...

There were herds of wildebeest that seem to like the salt pan,

walking in a long single file...into the vast unknown.

And this lone juvenile....was having a lot of fun by itself....

Getting to the edges of the salt pan,

On the way heading to a couple of waterholes on the southern bush tracks, I saw a couple of tourist minibuses were standing by a bushland....and here they were, resting under two different tress.

And nothing was happening, no movement, nothing...for quite a while.  I was about to windup the window, and turn the ignition.  Then, the female just stood up and paced....towards the male.

Without further ado, the male just get atop her...I was utterly astounded !!

Then it was all over, all in 3 short clicks of the camera.......

And it was time to go...

Was that what I thought it was, I asked the nearby safari ranger........Yes, indeed, and they can do IT quite a few times each day. But never for too long.

So here we are....learn a new thing a day, and there had been quite a few since arriving Africa.

Picnic areas outside of the main camps in Etosha, are fenced, and it is everyone's responsibility to close the gate after arrival.

This was the first time I had to munch inside the car since arriving Etosha, I now noticed the dust gathered in- and outside the car.....Etosha marked the beginning of many more kilometers of dirt road driving since the trip began in Johannesburg.

So far, the dirt roads had been in quite good conditions.

Outside the gate, there were plenty of wild-lives gathering for their midday drinks.

And some wanted to see who gets the maiden...

These agile onlookers,  were ready to run.....

On the western front, a lone gemsbok here, on the edge of the vast Salt Pan,

another there nearby a dry waterhole, and few others dotted on the horizon....

And a few racing ostriches, trying to outsmart my little sedan,

Come on, come on, he's catching up...

And then a few of these, around another nearly dried waterhole,

Faraway on the horizon...

Another loner, headed for the big expanse,

Finally, before leaving Etosha, I must go visit the most coveted camp, Okaukuejo Camp, close by Anderson Gate, where I must exit the park by sunset.

I was told by others, that the camp is usually booked fully by European tourists, sometimes, a year ahead.  So I was not even in the running when I tried only just 6 weeks ago.

The attractions of Okaukuejo is mainly because of its well favored waterhole for night viewing of wild-lives.  So, it was a point of interest for me, despite not being able to stay after sunset !

And a loner swaying elegantly, coming from the faraway ridge,

And after they had quenched their thirsts..

But my missing leopard, still had not made an appearance when I had to go.  

I exited Anderson Gate with the gate half closed.....and headed for the Etosha Safari Camp, 50 Km away.  At least, I'll  be on a grassy camping area tonight, instead of the dusty salt bowl.

Here is the footprint after 3 days in Etosha National Park.

Having experienced one of the best wild-lives national park in Africa, and probably in the World, in northern Namibia, now it is time to start exploring the rest of Namibia south of here, along the Atlantic coast.

Next Post : Twelfontein Stone Drawings