22 November 2018
Today is my birthday and just being here in the bush is the best gift I could ask for. However, I make a short list of what I would like to see today and at the top is Cheetah! The Kgalagadi usually shows us wonderful cheetah sightings but this time we’ve seen only a single sleepy one under a tree! I really want the Mools to see them at their glorious best. Pat even put in a request when saying Grace last night. Will her prayer receive a positive answer???
The Mools greet me with a big happy birthday and a gift of a new Kgalagadi Map Book! – It will be much treasured!
First up and always amazing to see is The Martial Eagle – then a den of the cutest Cape Foxes.



Then we watch two springbok locking horns in a friendly battle of strength

We find the wild cat at the same spot as yesterday and point her out to others who stop to ask what we’re staring at. We manage to get good shots of her and the kitten

There are no lion at Kij Kij today but we stop for coffee and to watch the sandgrouse, sparrows, quelea and finches flying from trees to water hole – always fascinating.

From there we drive to Melkvlei where The Earl cooks us a delicious birthday breakfast on the Skottel.


After breakfast we take the Dune Road.


Once on the Mata Mata Road we stop to see birds and animals. We find Ostriches. The babies are having a delightful sand bath.

Then it all happens. Between Rooibrak and Kamqua bore holes, lying lazily under a tree we find two young cheetah! My birthday wish comes true! Patricia’s prayer is answered.





We thoroughly enjoy a birthday treat of note! The cheetah interact with each other then they spot a springbok and get up and go for the chase – but they’re spotted and lose their lunch. We think they’ll go off somewhere else now –but no, they return to the same tree, giving us more wonderful views of their beautiful selves. I am in heaven!



There are only two other cars and we have nobody blocking our view – just awesome.


It’s a long way back to Twee Rivieren and we’re on a high all the way home. We stop to enjoy other creatures but the Cheetah are definitely the highlight. A wonderful way to end an amazing month’s trip! Tomorrow we start making our way home!