Palmwag Lodge

Palmwag Lodge was OK but could have been fantastic, given the setting.  The rooms were basic but adequate but there were lots of rules and regulations printed everywhere and the reception staff were disinterested to the point of rudeness.  The restaurant was nice though and the staff there lovely and there was a nice decked area to sit and watch the wildlife although curiously only two comfortable seats with the rest being hard benches.

On the drive to Palmwag Carlos told us of his special relationship with Jimbo (an old elephant who hangs around the lodge when he gets bullied by other younger bulls).  Having survived a charge by him some years ago it seems they now are good friends and Jimbo always knows when Carlos is there.  Miraculously having not been seen around the lodge for 4 months, he turned up this morning!

We were supposed to do our included game drive the following morning but this was changed to the afternoon so we had a welcome lie in and lazy morning photographing Jimbo .  

There were a few birds and insects around to keep us interested.

Pied Crow (yes - I actually got a bird in flight!)

Speckled Pigeon

Red Eyed African Bulbul

Rosy Faced Lovebird 

Worm Wars

Female Namibian Rock Agama

And Male Namibian Rock Agama (I presuming his colour intensifies in the breeding season).

Red Dragonfly

At about 1500 we set off for our game drive to look for Desert Adapted Rhino (luckily having already encountered the elephant yesterday).  Although the scenery was stunning, it was a rather boring drive around and even the guide Melvin didn’t appear hopeful of finding anything as all he kept doing was stopping for loo/drink on high view points. 

We did see few lone specimens

Oryx or Gemsbok (National Animal of Namibia)

Springbok

Female Red-Crested Korhaan

Pair of Namibian Sandgrouse

Eventually he did spot a Rhino in the far distance, cunningly concealed behind one of the many, many Euphorbia damarana bushes.  

But when he got closer to the area he scratched his head and muttered dejectedly “Oh! there are so many bushes” which really made us giggle.  We were heading back to the track when he suddenly spotted two and got out of the truck to try and encourage them to come closer – rather him than me.

He walked a good long way from the truck and was gone for so long we started making contingency plans for driving home.

But his plan worked and the rhino did give us a better showing.

Having found us two Black Rhino by going off road, he then had considerable trouble finding the way back to the track and we spent a lot of time going round and round in circles and driving over huge boulders in what seemed like a dry river bed, all the time aware that the gates to the concession closed at 1800.  

The first Oryx calves we've seen.

We got out just in time and had our sundowner by the gate and although not the most scenic of spots the sunset was beautiful.

I did take a few photos including this one of a beautiful crimson-speckled moth.

And (I think) a Blister Beetle

And all the time we were enjoying our sundowners, we were being watched!