Lockdown 499

Lockdown Day 499 - 7 August 2021

Kgalagadi Day 4.

We leave camp for our first drive of the last day, hopeful for any cat sighting, deciding today had to be the day.

First, we see a Brown Hyena, an extremely rare sighting in daytime as they are nocturnal and shy. It was sitting up in the grass, but photographs delivered a blur as the sun was in an awkward position. Happy to have seen this rare sight, we continued to other waterholes, seeing an array of antelope and wildebeest on the way.

6 Km before our sheduled turn around to camp, I looked back at a dune we were passing and a little movement caused me to tap hubby's arm to stop. The Cheetah lifted its head. And then there were two, lying in the dunes with fat bellies and half closed eyes.

Not even a passing Springbuck got their attention. One of them lazily rolled over so we could see its face and belly. We returned to camp feeling spoiled by our wonderful sightings.

On our afternoon drive we saw a couple of bat-eared foxes looking for insects to eat and coming for a drink at the waterhole.

As for the meteor shower, I actually have no words to describe what I saw from  01:00 - 02:10 this morning. Dressed like a polar bear, I sat just outside our chalet, looking up to the 3D milky way. Suddenly a "shooting star" appeared and shot across the milky way with a golden trail behind it. It looks like a shooting star, but it doesn't disappear as quickly. The next hour I witnessed one after another careening through the sky.

This was a God experience I will never forget, with praise and worship pouring out of my heart and lifting my hands to the sky. In those moments I realised we have no clue how indescribable and unfathomable God really is, but knowing He is all of everything and more at the same time. And of course, He's got this.

Lockdown 498

Lockdown Day 498 - 6 August 2021

Kgalagadi Day 3.

We left Mata Mata when the gates opened at 07:00. Driving in first light we watched the temperature plummet to -3°C and only warm up close to 10:00. We went to see if we could finally take a picture of the magnificent Martial Eagle, but were disappointed to find no-one home.

Later we spoke to a guy from Kgalagadi Sightings, who said there was actually a little chick in the nest and both parents were around. Thankful we saw one of them on the nest and in flight, we headed for Twee Rivieren for our last two nights.

After booking in and spending our siesta hour catching up on messages and email, we set aside the tech and drove out to a couple of the waterholes nearby.

We spoke about how most of the dunes were still covered in waving grass in some places high enough to almost cover an Oryx lying down. This also meant less viewing of predators, as the far out dunes had much food, dispersing all the animals far and wide.

But this also gives us an opportunity to see less common sightings such as nesting vultures and the like. We also encountered twin Oryx young ones, not squeaky pink, but close. And a Verreaux's Eagle Owl just before sunset, ready to start its nightly hunting. We drove back to camp passing a huge herd of springbuck that had left the waterhole closest to camp to dig in for the night.

With my alarm clock set for a meteor shower after midnight, we drift off to sleep while the quiet sets in.

#Ggt

Lockdown 497

Lockdown Day 497 - 5 August 2021

Kgalagadi Day 2.

We leave the camp at 7am just as the gates open, the temperature 5°C, dropping to 3°C as we reach the road next to the river bed. The sun had just started to rise and all was still quiet. Here and there we see various antelope and a couple of black backed jackal foraging or on their way to water. We pass the giraffe kindergarten and see two secretary birds on a treetop nest, a vulture and her very small newborn also in another nest. Many Lion spoor were visible on the sandy roads, but sadly we saw none today.

We stopped at Dalkeith waterhole after a couple of hours for a while, after which we started back towards camp. And then we saw a Martial Eagle. Oh my goodness, what a sight this was. It was busy building a huge nest and we got to see how it flew with twigs from the ground into the nest, carefully weaving them into the nest.

As one of the largest birds in Africa, this eagle's unique white and brown spotty breast feathers and cheeky ducktail feathers on the head are unmistakable. The wing span can reach up to 3metres and we saw this bird in action. This was indeed a magnificent experience.

One of the things we also came to see is the Meteor shower on display this time of the year.

If you would like to brave the cold night air and go out on a clear night after midnight, the perseid meteor shower can be seen between 17 July and 24 August. I will definitely be on the stoep of our rooms to do just that.

As the camp's generators are switched off, the camp quitens down and we lie in bed, watching the milky way hanging like a 3D picture in front of our window. The song "Our God is an awesome God"  plays in my mind as I fall asleep.

#Ggt

Lockdown 496

Lockdown Day 496- 4 August 2021

Kgalagadi Day 1. Red Dune country.

Waking up early in Upington, we took to the road, reaching the main gate of the Park around 08:30, with a long day of traveling and sight seeing to Mata Mata ahead of us.

We enter the Park with an "order" for a squeaky clean pink foot baby anything (always), a Cheetah kill, a Kalahari Male Lion, Leopard and of course the large eagles of which the Bateleur and Martial are my fave.

We see a number of springbuck and Oryx, giraffe and wildebeest on the way in, but the warm weather and wind has driven everyone into cover for an afternoon siesta. After our own siesta we ventured out from Mata Mata, enjoying the red dunes and waving grass but most of all the quiet. A special photo session awaited us at the first waterhole where a giraffe came to drink. And on our way back to camp we had to stop for a large herd of wildebeest crossing the road.

With no reception for 48 hours, we settle into the quiet, watching the flames of our little braai with the red sunset as backdrop. After dinner we take a walk around the camp and its floodlit waterhole, and retire tired but excited for tomorrow's blessing that awaits.

#Ggt

Lockdown 495

Lockdown Day 495 - 3 August 2021

We leave PE with mixed feelings after saying goodbye to Lukas for now untill we see each other again. And so life goes on.

After surviving an hour long ordeal of traffic to get out of the city, we were on our way to the Kgalagadi!

The road was quiet and took us through mid-country where we crossed the N1 somewhere close to Richmond.  We stopped at the Prieska Coffee Shoppe for two double shot cappuccinos made from strong, flavourful Italian beans. The sun approached the western horizon just as we arrived at our overnight room, clocking up 920km for the day. 

And so, tonight in Upington, we start to get excited about this long awaited trip. Although we didn't get the nature camps we originally booked for last year, we are very happy we actually got a booking, thankful now for the opportunity to be able to break away from the daily grind.

Although the camps we are staying in, have reception, once you leave the camp you are out of reception. This is why we go. To have some silence from all the tech voices in our heads all day long. From work and most responsibilities as well as everyday chores and general routine/life stuff. And from news, abominable viruses and the crazy world.

And the only voice going with us is God's, and He definitely has got this.

Lockdown 494

Lockdown Day 494 - 2 August 2021

Yesterday on our regular Sunday outing we saw many dolphins in the Bay having a great time!

After this morning's early blessing of 10mm rain, Lukas and I took another drive and sure enough, we saw them again! Even though the sea was rough, they seemed to glide happily through the swells.

This is our Kgalagadi week. AT LAST! We will be leaving tomorrow, and although I expect good reception, there may be glitches in successfully posting this blog.

For now I am enjoying our last night with Lukas, while all of us finish the leftovers and packing our stuff, in-between chatting and catching up on the Olympics.

Sadly, our South African 400m hope Wayde van Niekerk, fell out in the semis. But Akani Simbine came in on a very close 4th place in the Men's 100m final. Another proud moment for our country!

Tonight I offer up a prayer for all the athletes enjoying this wonderful event for presenting us with epic moments once again. I thank God for my nearest who are getting better and better each day, looking forward to the day they are declared fit and out of quarantine.

#Gbwy

#Ggt

Lockdown 493

Lockdown Day 493 - 1 August 2021

Sunday number 71: Architecture

I found a number of very interesting and weird buildings worth appreciating. Not necessarily for their clean lines or aestetics but for the complete 'otherwise-ness' of people who thought out of the box. I call it mind bending architecture:

1. The Commercial Bank in Ébène, Mauritius :

2. The Universum Science Center in Bremen, Germany:

3. The Digital Cloud Skyscraper in Singapore was a finalist in a competition to design a pavillion for the World Expo 2010. It is made up of 3866 cubes:

4. The Dancing House Hotel in Prague, Czech Republic:

5. The Opus Tower in Dubai:

6. The Chaoyang Park Plaza in Beijing:

7. The Wine Museum in Santiago, Chile:

8. The Rubik's Cube in Hungary:

9. Golf Hostivař in Prague, Czech Republic:

10. The Grand National Theatre in Beijing, also known as the Centre for Performing Arts :

Be inspired and be a mind bender where you are.

#Ggt