Mount Etjo

Our game drive this morning started at 0700 and it was rather cold but luckily woollen ponchos were provided.  The sunrise was beautiful over the lake and gave us lovely light for an hour or so.

We had a merry time meandering through the park and seeing loads of different herbivore species including particularly close encounters with elephant.

Black Wildebeest (or white-tailed gnu) but unfortunately out of focus

At one point we were sitting quietly watching a large tower of giraffe grazing when something suddenly spooked them and they cantered off.  We couldn't help but wonder if all the lion were correctly accounted for in their "enclosure".

We had a proper "safari-style" break for coffee and biscuits.

Our vehicle was quite strange but at least it meant we all had window seats.

This giraffe was way up the side of the mountain.

A few other random sightings

Weaver sp.

Grey Heron with frog lunch in its mouth.

Glossy Starlings having a real fight to the death.

Peek-a-boo!

Yellow-billed Stork

Pearl-spotted Owlet (possibly)

We made our way slowly back to the lodge for lunch and as we had a long day travelling home the next day we decided not to do the afternoon optional drive but to sort our packing and just enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

And, of course, the flamingo.

Namibia is an amazing country, full of diversity and it was without a doubt a fabulous holiday and we are happy we chose a group tour rather than self drive.

Etosha to Mount Etjo

Today’s drive is only 6 hours but our first stop is in a town called Tsumeb to visit the museum and Carlos has arranged for this to be opened at 0800 specially for us.  Tsumeb is another very prosperous town due to its history of white silver and platinum mining, the area having been struck by a large meteorite during the earth’s formation.  The museum housed a very eclectic mix of artefacts from the German occupation a lot of which had been retrieved from a river in which they were dumped in the 1915 Nama uprising.  There was also another very interesting display of rock crystals and semi precious stones which have been found in the area, along with random items like an old copper, prototype washing machine, typewriters, stamps, coins, clothing etc etc.  The whole thing was very cosy and felt like it was being staffed by the local WI - not sure why but I don't seem to have any photos?

Once again we stopped at a local Spar (this time a Superspar) to get provisions for lunch and we also picked up some more dressings and antiseptic for Ian’s arm.

We had a 1300 hour appointment at the Okonjima Day Centre which is the home of Africat, a foundation which homes and hopefully rehabilitates big cats that have strayed into farming communities – the farmers can ring the centre rather than shooting the animals.  

We had a short tour viewing several cheetahs but being the middle of the day the animals were dozing in the shade - no surprise there!  

Unfortunately we didn't get to see any leopards but here's some they had on posters.

We then walked around the actual centre and heard about the great work they do, both in helping the animals and in educating future generators about conservation.  One of the best displays of African animals I've seen (great taxidermy)

A rather tatty butterfly.

As we were about to leave this huge Warthog wandered by.

An apple is a strange sort of meal for a Silver-backed Jackal.

Another two hours later and we reached the haven that is Mount Etjo Safari Lodge, home for last two nights.  This was the lifework of a former game hunter who turned away from hunting and bought a farm and then turned it into a reserve, taking in animals from the surrounding areas and there are now over 8,000 animals within this vast sanctuary.  

After driving through the main gates, we drove past the man-made lake which was teaming with birds and up to the house.  We were greeted with the fabulous sight of flamingo in a smallish pond next to a huge green lawn.

Tea was being served on the lawn.

Our room is just amazing, a huge suite – two double beds in the bedroom, large lounge with seating for about 8, massive bath with Jacuzzi and separate loo – just fabulous.

Naturally I dumped all the luggage and headed straight for the flamingo and spent the next couple of hours merrily snapping away.

They might look serene but there was a fair bit of arguing going one - just look at the razor sharp edges of its bill.

This one was just crying out for a quick arty edit.

The communal areas are also quite amazing.

A few other pictures from the water's edge.

Waterbuck (good one for the Arses of Africa album)

Like most ruminants they have very gentle expressions.

Dinner was served in a sort of cave type building with an open fire pit in the middle.

After dinner we elected to go and watch the lions being fed.  The lions they have were all “problem” animals in that they have been taken in from areas where they were a risk to livestock and are therefore not suitable for release into the park so are kept in a separate, albeit huge, enclosure.  With subsequent breeding by the "caught" animals there are now about 25 or so and all, none or a few might turn up to be fed.  Quite a large blind had been created and you could sit and watch at very close quarters whilst these magnificent beasts (4 male lions with full mane and one cub) chomped on the hind leg of a giraffe.  There was a grill between us and openings just big enough to poke a lens though but although there was floodlighting, it wasn’t really possible to take any decent photos.

At the end when I was packing up my gear, one came so close to the grill that Ian could feel his breath on his neck.