19 November 2018

Nossob to Rooikop to Marie se Gat to Kaspersdraai and back

Another early start today and out the gate by 06:06. The Earl complained that we were late! We should have been out by 5:30 – now we’ll miss the lions and cheetahs. But all was not lost. Why are these cars parked at the water hole looking at nothing – he said. We turned in and there they were!

We watched them drink and play and then walk off together. What an awesome sighting – they spotted a springbok and went into hunting mode. But it was far off and gone before they could give chase. We watched them till they melted into the veld. A few minutes earlier or later and we would have missed them

We continued to Marie se gat. Marie was married to one of the men responsible for drilling the boreholes. His name was Henry Brink. Imagine being Marie – living like a squatter in the wilds of Africa. Life was tough but when the man on whom you depend fails to perform his duties and no money is coming in, you turn to desperate measures. Henry began to drink excessively and his job became the last thing he paid attention to so Marie simply drilled the borehole herself so that they could survive! Hooray for pioneering women like Marie!

At her famous Gat (bore hole) we watched quelea and Cape Sparrow

We continued to Kaspersdraai waterhole where clouds of quelea, finches and Namaquadove were being pursued by a lanner. Then we made our way back spotting a Martial Eagle on the way

A Red-necked falcon also posed beautifully for us

Half way between Kaspers and Marie’s we saw a car stopped and asked the Australians within what they were looking at. “A sleeping cheetah – hasn’t moved for half an hour – we may give up and go back for breakfast!” We found a suitable spot – saw the cheetah lift her head and flick her tail and stayed to see if she did anything more while we had a cup of coffee. She didn’t stir – but it was still a lovely sighting as thus far no other cheetahs had made an appearance!