Namibia and Kgalagadi Adventure – Day 7 and 8 – Waterberg Plateau

2018-11-04 | puppy1952

2 November 2018

We were up and about by 7, got the caravan packed and then our hostess, Anthea, cooked us a delicious English breakfast. Her freshly baked muffins are to die for!

Anthea is a perfect B&B hostess and her establishment is delightful. Each room opens onto the bird friendly garden, the dogs are inquisitive so don’t leave your door open unless you want their company and the bathroom is lovely. There is a kettle, a fridge and free WiFi, A perfect place to stay if you are passing through Windhoek.

We were on the road just after nine and the trip to the Waterberg went smoothly until the dirt road leading up to the resort which is in serious need of grading.

It was 1 o’clock when we arrived and the mercury was well in the thirties. After checking in we found a suitable place to camp and set up fairly quickly. It is a site with great potential and in the past has been well maintained but now the paths and roads are deeply eroded and the ablutions, though clean, need a bit of maintenance. The washing up area is fine, as is the laundry room. There are no washing machines – so only hand washing. There is an enclosed courtyard with wash lines which need replacing.

We like visiting The Waterberg because of the bird life. This time we did not see as many species as in the past but we were pleased with what turned up.

After setting up camp and having a bite to eat we set off to explore the pool and cabin area.

At the cottage area there was quite a bit to see. Warthogs were mowing the front lawns.

Mom and Dad dik dik with their baby nearby were also enjoying a graze.

The bird life was interesting and among others we saw red-billed spur-fowl and a beautiful purple roller

It was disappointing to find that the pool was not at its sparkling best but we still had a swim in the murky waters.

We saw and heard the Go Away bird and enjoyed the ground-scraper thrush.

Back at camp we were delighted to find rosy faced love birds pecking alongside laughing doves.

3 November 2018

We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and Pat and I did a clean up and some laundry. We wanted to go for a game drive on the plateau but the fee of $650 is exorbitantly high. We took a walk to reception to negotiate a discount. “There are four of us – all pensioners – please can you make a plan,’ we asked. Unfortunately the manageress does not work on Saturdays and the duty staff did not have the authority to help us. They tried to phone but told us their boss was unreachable. We discussed it and decided that we would be seeing plenty of game in Etosha so we’d give it a miss.

In the afternoon we went for our own little game drive around the camp and then thought we might take a dip in the pool. But there were crowds of people there, loud music playing and children splashing excitedly in the water. We all decided to leave them to their joyful antics and went to the restaurant for a drink instead. It was pleasant sitting there and we enjoyed watching a familiar chat, ground scraper thrush and later found a puff back in a tree. At camp we found a Green-winged Pytilia. The paradise fly catchers were around but impossible to photograph.

Familiar Chat

Puffback

Green-winged pytilia – female

The baboon are both amusing and a nuisance. One has to be very careful to make sure they cannot get into you tent or caravan. Don’t even leave bags lying around – they will rip them apart to see if there’s food inside.

Later we found out why there were so many people at the pool – It was a staff function for employees of a furniture company and their families. A large group of them came to camp next to us. They all dressed up with colourful paper flower chains round their necks, played traditional music and set up their tents. We found them quite entertaining and chatted with one or two. Some slept under the stars but four very cute children – two boys two girls between the ages of 4 and 6 were really excited to be sharing a tent which they helped erect. A parks board employee came round a little later and asked them to turn down the music – No problem – they did! However, at 1:30 am we were woken by loud talking! Those sleeping under the stars were calling to each other!

But it was all part of the adventure. They were very pleasant and friendly so we forgave them the night interruption.

Having a view like this makes it all worthwhile. Each evening we were here the little bush babies came scampering through the trees and warthogs came to mow the lawns. What a privilege to be able to enjoy all this beauty around us.

Wild Adventure – Namibia and Kgalagadi – Day 6 Windhoek

2018-11-01 | puppy1952

1 November 2018

This morning Earl and I packed up and went to have breakfast at “The Redeeming Feature” of Hardap Dam Resort. The Mools decided to do coffee and cereal at camp which gave them more time to pack up their tent.

Breakfast included yogurt and fruit, cold meat and cheese, eggs, bacon and sausage and coffee and was not bad at all!

By 8:15 we were on the road to Windhoek. We enjoyed a bit of birding on our way out and were lucky enough to spot several go away birds, three Namaqua sandgrouse, a black sparrowhawk flying over head and a mountain wheatear.

Seen all over the area – a quiver tree

Go Away Birds

We arrived at our B&B, Anjo Guesthouse, at 11 o’clock and were allowed to check in straight away. Anthea had assured us that there would be space to park our caravan and The Earl expertly reversed it into its reserved spot. Thank Anthea and John for allowing us to park it for the night.

We then went off to shop for supplies, get a Namibian sim card and data bundle and have a good German coffee and Apple Strudel!

You can’t come to Windhoek and not have Apple Strudel

Anjo’s has a lovely bird friendly garden and we enjoyed watching dozens of red-billed quelea, common waxbill, blue waxbill, red-billed firefinch, wattled starling, bronze mannikin and black-throated canary.

We also had a cooling swim in the pool

In the evening we went to Joe’s Beerhouse for dinner. This establishment is awesome and totally novel. It’s a huge Boma divided into several sections and it serves a variety of beers and other beverages as well as wonderful food. Joe collects – well everything that’s interesting – and displays it all over his Boma. Each piece has a story and you can read about some of them in the menu!

We did not book but were seated at a large table shared with other people. You can get smaller tables for your group if you reserve ahead of time. It turned out to be the best evening as we got chatting to the Dutch couple on our left and the Swiss couple on our right. The fun thing about travelling is meeting interesting people from other countries. Both couples were en route to do safaris in hired 4×4 vehicles with roof top tents. What fun!

Our delightful Swiss Friends

Reuben was celebrating his birthday!

The food was excellent – Tony and Pat had eisbein, Earl lamb shank and I had kudu steak.

We all had to take doggy bags as the portions were so generous. In spite of the place been very busy, the service was quick and efficient.

Wild Adventure – Namibia and Kgalagadi – Day 5 Ai Ais to Hardap Dam

2018-11-01 | puppy1952

31 October 2018

Today we left Ai Ais and made our way to Hardap Dam, one of the Namibia Wild Resort rest camps.

We spotted these klipspringers along the road from Ai Ais

The landscape was at first rocky and dry with interesting vegetation from time to time.

Every so often a tree or bush erupts from the rocks

Awesome view toward the Fish River Canyon

We last visited Hardap in 2005. Before booking in at the time I read a review about the place which proclaimed that it’s only Redeeming Feature was the Restaurant – We’ve joked about that ever since! The Redeeming Feature boasted an awesome view of The Dam and served reasonable meals. Soon after we stayed the resort was closed for several years and some major renovations took place. It is now much improved with upgraded cabins, pleasant campsites and modern ablutions.

Our Campsite – Renovated cabins in the background

Hardap Dam

A welcome addition – a lovely pool near the restaurant

Outdoor seating at the restaurant

Sunset at our camp

Lovely braai area

We enjoyed a refreshing swim in the lovely pool which overlooks the dam then had drinks at the restaurant before going back to our campsite to braai.

We expected high temperatures after Springbok but were pleasantly surprised to have cooler evenings and morning in both Ai Ais and Hardap.

As we spent only one night here we did not do a game reserve in the reserve. However, they do have guided tours with a competent guide and you are likely to see black rhino, Gemsbok, giraffe and other game. There are no predators besides black-backed jackal.

The bird life in the area is also interesting. We saw white-browed sparrow weavers, mouse-birds, Namaqua Sandgrouse among others.

Wild Adventure – Namibia and Kgalagadi – Day 4 Ai Ais

2018-11-01 | puppy1952

30 October 2018

Today we had a pleasant day relaxing at Ai Ais Rest Camp. Early this morning we were woken by the local feral cat population! There were more than half a dozen of them and it seemed that there was competition for the turf! They were all rather beautiful looking cats and The Earl just wanted to pet them, feed them and take them home!

One of the kitties who soon learned which side their bread was buttered!

Later in the morning the rhythmic sound of music caught our attention and we became aware that a group of local people were being videoed for a television show. They were gaily dressed and doing some traditional dancing in the car park.

Along with all the other foreign tourists we thoroughly enjoyed the show! At the end they invited to spectators to join in. There was a group of French tourists who did not need a second invitation.

We also had fun doing a spot of bird watching and saw many pale winged starlings, mountain wheat-ear, rock martins, Cape robin and a few very pretty swallow-tailed bee-eaters

Swallow-tailed bee-eater with prey

We also enjoyed ‘taking the waters’ and in the evening we enjoyed a braai before turning in for the night.

The Earl and Tony bonding at The Braai

Wild Adventure – Namibia and Kgalagadi – Day 3 Springbok to Ai Ais

2018-11-01 | puppy1952

Wild Adventure – Namibia an Kgalagadi – Day 3 – Springbok to Ai Ais

29 October 2018

This morning we were all up at 7 getting ready for departure. We had rusks, cereal and coffee for breakfast and The Earl and I set off ahead of The Mools as we would be travelling a tad slower. It’s a good thing we did this because as we neared Steinskop we became aware of an awful knocking sound on the rear right of the car. We contacted the Mools who had not yet left Springbok and told them we would turn into the Steinkopf to have it checked out. Well, the mechanics at the local garage didn’t have a high lift so we had to head back to Ford in Springbok. The Mools had just left but turned back saying they thought they should rather wait for us.

I phoned ahead to tell the mechanics that we needed emergency assistance and they were quite willing to see us immediately. The Mools had a flask of boiling water and we found a shady spot, set out my cups on a chopping board, hauled out the cookies and rusks and had a little coffee party next to the forecourt!

Preparing to picnic in front of the workshop!

The Ford in the air

Luckily it was an easily sorted problem – the paper label had come loose from the prop shaft and was hitting against it making an unholy noise. With that sorted were back on the road by 10:30.

We reached Vioolsdrift just before midday and the border crossing went smoothly. It was not at all busy

Then we were in Namibia!

We filled up with fuel then drove through the desolate landscape of semis dessert. The rocks are phenomenal! Sometimes it looked like a pile of boulders had been poured onto the side of the road by a huge dump truck. It felt like we were driving on another moon like planet.

Check in at Ai Ais went smoothly and we set up camp under some shady trees. By five we were ready for our first swim in the hot pools

The wind got up in the evening so we decided not to braai and instead ate at the restaurant. Pat had Schnitzel, I had chicken breast with cheese sauce and the men had rump steak. The steak was a bit sinewy but very tasty. We all enjoyed our meal but had to fetch our own wine as they had run out of the type they sold by the glass. That saved us R40 each!

IMG_1435-001

Our first day in Namibia went well! More of our adventure to follow.

Wild Adventure – Namibia and Kgalagadi Day 1 and Day 2

2018-11-01 | puppy1952

The plan was to meet our friends ‘The Mools” at Springbok on Sunday 28 October. The Earl and I, however, decided to leave a day earlier and slept over at Citrus Creek Caravan Park. From there our itinerary looks like this:

28/10/2018 – Springbok Caravan Park
29/10/2018 – Two nights Ai Ais, Namibia
31/10/2018 – Hardap Dam, Mariental, Namibia
01/11/2018 – Anjo Guest House, Windhoek, Namibia
02/11/2018 – Two Nights Waterberg Plateau, Namibia
04/11/2018 – Three Nights Namutoni Rest Camp, Etosha National Park, Namibia
07/11/2018 – Three Nights Halal Rest Camp, Etosha National Park, Namibia
10/11/2018 – Three Nights Okaukeujo Rest Camp, Etosha National Park, Namibia
13/11/2018 – Anjo Guest House, Namibia
14/11/2018 – Three nights Mata Mata Rest Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa
17/11/2018 – Three nights Nossob Rest Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
20/11/2018 – Three nights Twee Rivieren Rest Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
23/11/2018 – Make our way home

So at 10:30 am on Saturday 27 October 2018 we were packed and ready to start our adventure. First stop was for a leisurely breakfast at Stormsvlei Farm Stall. Here they have tables set in a beautiful garden where the pets wander around freely.

It was a pleasant drive to Citrusdal, not much traffic but a few delays due to road construction. We arrived at Citrus Creek Caravan Park at around 4 pm and set up camp under a shady pine tree. It was very hot – 42 degrees C. The only option was to plunge into the pool which was most refreshing.

We cooked our pork chops in a pan on the induction stove, enjoyed the cool of the evening and went to bed early.

The next morning we made our way to Springbok stopping at Klawer Wimpy for breakfast. Once again it was very hot with the mercury climbing to the mid forties. We booked a cabin and a caravan site at the caravan park so that the Mools would not have to set up their tent for just the one night. Our caravan park did not have much shade but we found a spot that would do. After unhitching we went into Springbok found a Checkers and shopped for provisions. We made it just in time as they closed at 2 pm. Back at camp The Earl had a nap until The Mools arrived at 4. We all had a refreshing swim in the pool and had fun watching some dusky sunbirds, weavers, mousebirds and martins.

Masked Weaver

Refreshing Swim

Dusky Sunbird

We used the cabin kitchen for catering, braaied some lamb chops and boerewors and enjoyed the balmy evening. Once again it was early to bed!

We won’t have internet for a while but the story will continue when we do!

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Bone

2018-10-27 | puppy1952

Here is my contribution to this week’s Stream of consciousness prompt from Linda

It was pure chance that I met Priyanka. I was not supposed to sit next to her on that flight between Barcelona and London. There was somebody else in my assigned spot and he hopped up the second I arrived and made his way to where he should be. But his wife looked so distraught and muttered something in Italian. She was a nervous traveller, couldn’t speak Spanish or English and now her husband couldn’t sit with her. Using all the wrong words in a crazy sentence construction I said, “Vuoi marito sedersi qui?” You want husband sit here?

“Si, per favore, si.” She replied. My daughter who was travelling with me did not mind us being separated. I was bone-tired after weeks of travelling and not in the mood to chat so I settled down to read my Kindle and almost dozed off when the stewardess handed me a landing card and I started filling it in. “Do I need one of those?” asked the young girl beside me – “Only if you don’t belong to the EU.” I replied. She was from Barcelona so no problem there. Of course she wanted to know where I hailed from. “South Africa,” said I.

“Oh – I’m planning a trip there in October. I haven’t booked yet but my friend and I want to visit Cape Town, The Garden Route, Drakensberg and Kruger National Park”

All my favourite places – so of course I took her email address and a week or so later sent her the bones of a suggested itinerary and invited her and her friends to spend a day with us in Struisbaai. And that is exactly what they did – all because of sitting in the wrong seat and filling in a landing card!

We had such fun showing these delightful young people our tiny neck of the woods yesterday afternoon. We visited the Southern Tip, The Agulhas Light House, the harbour and then spent the evening drinking an excellent Cape Wine (Springfield Life from Stone) and enjoying a traditional South African braai! We were delighted to see that they did not hesitate to hold a chop or chicken bone in their fingers!

Three Spaniards and an Italian at the Southern Tip of Africa

Maria, Roberta, Juan and Priyanka

Juan wanted to see birds – we showed him a few including this black shouldered kite

The mongooses were in their usual spot

Unfortunately the stingrays did not turn up – the boats did not go out so there was no fish cleaning to attract them

Smoke gets in their eyes at the braai!

Our Four Friends – Juan, Maria, Priyanka and Roberta (the Italian)

Eating Chicken Wings and Drinking Life from Stone.

Cee’s Fun Photo Challenge – Things people play with

2018-10-12 | puppy1952

Here is my take on this week’s Fun Photo Challenge from Cee.

While visiting Prague we had dinner at a restaurant that had a toy train theme. It was set up with a proper working toy railway system. Once your drinks were ordered they were delivered directly to your table by train! It was great fun and a wonderful way to bring out the inner child.

A Photo a Week Challenge – Whimsical

2018-10-11 | puppy1952

Here is my contribution to this week’s challenge from Nancy

Lauren posing with Marilyn at Madam Tussaud’s Amsterdam

My grandson (now 21) decided it would be fun to get fully clothed into the bathroom basin!

Share Your World – 8 October 2018

2018-10-08 | puppy1952

The Questions from Sparks This Week:

Do you prefer Apple (‘I’ products) or Android for your technology ‘fix’?

My grandsons and daughter desperately want me to go for Android but I am an Apple kinda gal! I do still have a ‘normal’ laptop but my tablet and phone are Apple and I love them and will not change. I almost got myself an Apple Mac Computer when my Dell died last year but ……. Just too expensive! I’m regretting it but who knows if my current laptop doesn’t start behaving I’m going to ditch it, dig deep into the savings and get me an APPLE MAC.

What’s something on your personal bucket list?

I don’t actually have a list of things I want to do before I die. However, I do want to do as much as possible while I am in good health and have the means to enjoy what’s left of Life. So top of my imaginary list is SKI aka Spend the Kids’ Inheritance.

I made up my mind when I retired that I would not miss an opportunity to do anything adventurous if it presented itself – within sane reason of course! I’m NOT going to Skydive or Bungy Jump. However, although I dislike heights, speed and boats – I will go on a cruise, hot air balloon or anything else that challenges my comfort zone if I’m pressed.

The plan is to travel to as many countries as I can afford and also to indulge my passion for Eco- tourism but that is something I’ve done for many years so it’s not new. Birds are my passion so if I can go somewhere to see a new bird – I’m in!

What would you name your boat if you had one? The Unsinkable 3? The Please Don’t Sink? Your choice! Also, what would it look like? Do you want a motor yacht, a sailboat, or perhaps a dinghy?

I am not a boat person! But the love of my life is! He has/had a boat – it’s name was Kiora which means Point of Gold. Well actually he has had a few boats named that, the latest one he sold recently to a friend so it still lives in our boat garage.

The Ex-boat – Kiora

My dream boat would be a very large cruise ship. It would be very big and The Earl would be the Captain – because with him in charge nothing would go wrong. He would control a crew of well trained sailors and other staff and we would sail around the world with all our friends. The food would be amazing, we’d have butlers and ladies’ maids seeing to our every need, we’d travel on perfectly calm seas and the on board entertainment would be world class. The Earl would call it – New Horizons.

This is after all Share Your World Land so anything is possible!

Which fictional character would be the most boring to meet in real life?

Eeyore – I love him but he is so grumpy and unlike Christopher Robin and crew who tolerate him with the utmost patience I’d want to ‘fix’ him!

And finally:

What brought gratitude, a smile or laughter to your life this week?

Funny you should ask as I have had this really happy feeling this week – Life Is Good. I spent 10 days away in the caravan in Knysna and with my rural family in Plettenberg Bay – how lucky am I to be able to just drop everything and do that!

What made me smile and laugh – My daughter sent me a photograph of a heron. Mom – It’s scary – I stopped my car to take a photograph of a BIRD – I’m turning into my parents! You see when she was a teenager she got extremely irritated when said parents stopped for every – little – bird – they – saw! So that me smile and laugh out loud!

The Child’s Heron

Highlights of Plettenberg Bay

2018-10-07 | puppy1952

Yes we visited the kids in Plettenberg Bay just two weeks ago but you can’t do a trip to Knysna without popping in for a short visit to the kids who are just an hour away!

The Earl only booked till Tuesday morning at Monks, forgetting that there was still the competition prize-giving we could have gone to. We tried to get the extra night but due to school holidays and another upcoming fishing event the campsite was fully booked. So we packed up early and made our way to Plett. It was not the most pleasant pack up as it decided to rain. Luckily we got done before it really poured! It continued on and off all of Tuesday but the rest of the time we had great weather.

On Wednesday morning we were enjoying a cup of coffee on the patio when we spotted a para-glider flying over the farm. I wanted to take a photo but by the time I stirred myself to fetch the camera, The Earl, – said – Hey – he’s coming down!

Not my photo – but he looked like this – Thank you Google

The para-glider disappeared behind the pine trees about 4 km away but still on the farm. “We’ve got to go and rescue him!” yelled the Earl. Ooooh – how exciting – an adventure. He, Lauren and I rushed to the Everest and made our way gingerly along the rough farm roads. “I know exactly where he landed,” The Earl assured us ” But keep your eyes open – he must have seen the road from the air and will make his way toward it.”

Because of the terrain it was slow going with the Everest in 4X4 mode for most of the way. Finally we turned onto the field where we thought he’d landed. and sure enough a surprised young man with a large back pack appeared from behind the trees.

And yes he was pleased to see us. He was trying to fly to Uniondale but the thermals let him down and he had to land. There were two others with him but they landed many miles further away. We took him to the launch site where his car was parked. His friends had already been to collect theirs. Andries was most grateful that we had come to fetch him – it would have taken him a very long time to walk to the farm and then to the launch site.

The Launch Site

This is what you launch yourself into

Awesome

He was very interesting to talk to and offered us all a free tandem flight whenever we wanted to have such an adventure. Not me thanks, Andries – but perhaps my four grandkids will do it during the Christmas Holidays!

On Thursday Lauren’s old high school friend, Saskia came to visit. She and her family were camping at Keurboom’s. She brought her 10-year-old with her while her hubby and older son were playing golf. Simon and Josh hit it off straight away and went off to fish in one of the dams while Lauren, Saskia and I went for a walk on the farm.

If you look carefully you will see the fishing boys – Grandpa was not far away – Boys of all ages love to fish!

The Road less travelled – downhill to the dam – uphill back to the farm!

Saskia and Lauren

It was an awesome visit but home was calling and on Friday morning we headed back to our Struisbaai. We are now preparing for The Great Trek to Namibia at the end of this month!

More fun in Knysna

2018-10-01 | puppy1952

We woke to much cooler weather today and had a little late lie in before getting up and setting up to do a bit of exploring. Breakfast at Whe was lovely. There weren’t many other people there as it is more of a lunch and dinner venue with fresh oysters being their specialty. Well actually if you want to enjoy fresh oysters you’re spoiled for choice in Knysna!