19 Okakoejoe Etosha 13/5/15

Got off to relatively early start.

Treated to a personal, if brief, sighting of a lioness.

Usual suspects en route but nice sighting of a red necked falcon.

Have a lovely, secluded site at Okakoejoe. Close to waterhole. Slight problem is the 'blutes are quite a distance but it's worth it! Interestingly enough, our favourite site at Halali and here is number 37.

Have decided we'll probably hang around camp rather than chase the game. This is a lovely waterhole with all sorts coming to visit. Also, we have seen more birdlife variety around the camp than anywhere else. Flycatcher, pied barbet, woodpeckers, finches, weavers, crows to name but a few.

Jackal scrounging at night meal. One adopted us and chased off all would be contenders but then allowed one who was limping to hang around. Home away from home with two sets of eyes watching every mouthful.

18 Halali Etosha 12/5/15

Spent a lovely couple of hours at the waterhole. Rhino mating ritual, 7 ellies, 2 hyena and a couple of jackal. Shortly after we left, apparently 6 lion came to drink.

Barny was screeching during the night and ellies trumpeting.

On morning drive we found 2 lactating lions with at least one cub. Hard to spot in the grass.

Another highlight was a blue crane; first we've seen in the wild.

Back at camp waterhole, plenty of ellies, black rhino, jackal and a brief sighting of a lioness. She was roaring frequently, answering roars could be heard from a distance. 

Sat around our campfire listening to lion, ellies, scops and barny. What a life!

17 Halali Etosha 11/5/15

Pleasant enough drive to get here. Stopped at Tsumeb for shopping ... lovely shopping centre (P 'n P). Lovely spur burger for brunch. Arrived at Namutoni at 11:00 - 75kms to Halali took us 61/2 hours.

Lots of plain critters: Impala (black faced), springbok, zebra, giraffe, hartebees, kudu, zebra, steenbok, elephants and jackal and, oh, did I mention zebra?

I'll just have a snooze on my bruvver's back

Very hot day although probably only registering 32 deg. Also, very dry. Petrol pump attendant was saying the rains have been bad this year and their cattle are taking strain. Having said that, the Etosha beasties look good.

16 Roy's Camp nr Grootfontein 10/5/15

Checked out at Hakusembe and they forgot to bill us for our accommodation ... R900. Little angel vs red devil ... Angel won!!!

Our meat impounded (again!!!) at the disease control point en route here. (Would have thought our honesty this morning would've pushed fate in our favor!) Never mind, perfect excuse to eat here ... lunch and supper.

Very unusual decor. Quaint and rustic comes to mind. They've created an old farmhouse effect and then added old farmhouse implements for effect. Overall, quite pleasing on the eye. Caution: beware of thorns!!! I've been spiked quite a few times already. Even the campsites resemble cattle kraals.

A little dik dik came to visit our campsite on two occasions. Had the best lodge supper thus far with game bobotie, roll mops, well prepared veggies and sweet potatoes plus salad. Spent a pleasant evening chatting to two locals and running up a good size bar bill! 

15 Hakusembe nr Rundu 9/5/15

Had our best night's sleep since we commenced this journey. Heard hippo downriver for the first time since we've been here at Hakusembe.

Spent a restful day predominantly sitting on the jetty. Decided to chase the elusive tiger by boat and went on an expedition at 2pm. Pleasant enough cruise but still no tiger! Did manage to get a couple of pics of birds, though.

Little malachite in the shadows

Juvenile fish eagle posing beautifully

Had supper at the lodge and then went to the beach area. Met Paul, an accomplished fisherman and freelance guide for the lodge. He caught 3 nice size tigers, then gave Luis some tips plus live bait. Luis had 2 convincing strikes but did not land them. By this time, all the male species in the park had converged on the beach and it got too hectic. We opted for the peace and quiet of our site. Luis had managed to obtain a very dead bream which he cut into fillets. Still nothing!

The night skies are awesome, feels like a low canopy of lights that you can reach out and touch.

14 Hakusembe nr Rundu 8/5/15

Restless night ... one minute hot then cold.

Spent a pleasant 30 minutes on the jetty watching small tiger swimming near the bank. Much interest shown in the lure but no takers.

Lunch at the lodge. Pretty boring, hot, windy day! Fishing crew who camp next door came home with their catch of the day: a beautiful Nemwi

Night time and mood improved. Sat on the jetty ... nice and cool. An owl flew by - guessing it was probably a barny.

Went down to the little "beach" near Sam Situ. River was alive with tiger leaping about.

Luis had a couple of good hits but failed to land any. Guess where we're off to tomorrow night!

A playful, mottled dachsie came to join us on the beach. She loved chasing shadows cast by the moths.

Found out her name is Snowy!

13 Hakusembe nr Rundu 7/5/15

Arrived here around 11ish. Have own 'blute and view of river. Very close to floodlit jetty so Luis hopeful re tiger.

Had a couple of Amarula at the lodge pub. Pleasant surroundings.

Jetty is coolest place with breeze off River plus shade. Look onto Angolan village. Get to watch the kids bathing and other bits of village life. Young Angolan girl thin as a reed carting their water bottle to the river to fill

Took her ages to fill and light was gone by the time she battled up the incline with the full bottle.

Three different herds of cows came down to drink at similar time of day. Interesting that the herders know exactly who belongs to who. The bulls from each herd would challenge each other creating consternation amongst the herders.

Above depicts a leader challenging another bull (out of pic as in bushes). Ah, wildlife ... Rundu style!

Challenges seem to be the order of the day with this Reed cormorant challenging another

Had a surprise visitor ... startled me 'til I figured out who he was

Luis spent an unsuccessful couple of hours looking for the elusive tiger