Wild Adventure Chapter 6 Lions at Kij Kij

8 March

The advantage of staying in a bush camp on the Botswana side of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is that there are fewer people in camp and one really gets to commune with nature – it’s living on the edge as there is always a chance that a wild creature could wander past your caravan or tent.  This is what the Frend-Leighs and Grum-Peighs love about Camp Rooiputs Number 2.   It is also closer to the water holes so you get to them before the crowds from Twee Rivieren arrive.  But Rooiputs has the added advantage of being close enough to Twee Rivieren so that when you need to replenish your stocks it’s a quick trip there and back.  On this particular morning the friends decide to check out the Kij Kij Waterhole nice and early and then take the long dune road that connects to another road that takes you to TR.  The plan is then to leave the park and shop at the Kgalagadi Lodge shop – and have breakfast at their restaurant.  There is nothing as good as mixing a bit of rustic living with luxury now and then!

And they are well rewarded when they get to Kij Kij and find some frolicking lions.

Good Morning Kgalagadi

This is fun!

Come on let’s play!

Time to go!

The Dune Road is very long and bendy and can be boring but today a honey badger rushed over the road in front of them and they saw 19 Northern Black Korhaan

The best of the bunch

On the return journey the Grum-Peighs stop for every bird.  Ho-Hum!

A lesser grey shrike

The ever-present tawny eagle

Southern Masked weaver and Lark-like Bunting

Male and female red-headed finch

Grey-backed sparrowlark

Male red-headed finch

Immature Pale Chanting Goshawk

Jackal

The highlight was seeing a cobra try to invade a sociable weaver nest.

In the evening the Frend-Leighs and Grum-Peighs had another delicious braai.  There was no sign of stormy weather and the sunset was magnificent.

The Earl and The Friend bonding in front of the fire

Sunset

Camp Rooiputs Number 2 at night