Henk Dop: Namibia Trip Report 2005

Klein Namutoni

The next day we pass by Klein Namutoni in the morning, and note a Martial Eagle mixing with the assembled Vultures. When we return in the afternoon, the open plain around the waterhole is practically filled with Guineafowl. Every now and then the Guineafowl panic en masse, fly off in all directions, take cover, and then slowly return. Would the Martial Eagle still be around? Then, from the left behind us, a sound like a jet engine at full throttle suddenly comes whooshing past, it's indeed the Martial Eagle now swooping down unexpectedly on the Guineafowl. The panic is complete, the Eagle drops itself into a clump of fowl, wildly grabbing around with its talons, but failing to catch a meal. It flies off into a treetop, where it's mobbed by a single Fork-tailed Drongo. It takes to the air again, and is now mobbed by four Blacksmith Plovers, and these tenacious fighters chase the Eagle away over the horizon. Our patient late afternoon waiting at Klein Namutoni did not always pay off, there were those times when we would simply see the sun get lower and lower, without anything much happening.

But then we did find another large group of Elephants, at just the perfect time, with golden Impalas in the background as well as fighting Giraffe, hammering away at each other with their long necks. The Elephant sequence is superb, their sound of their drinking, splashing and farting joined by the blunt thuds of the headbashing Giraffe.

Chudop

One morning, on out way to Chudop from Kalkheuwel, we see an adult Hyena and two young, several hundred meters off, and conclude that they may have a den there. A few days later we spot three adults and one young, surely they must indeed have a den here. I take the GPS co-ordinates, so it'll be easy to check on a next visit if it's still around. A lone Elephant in musth means everybody else has to wait, which in this case meant some 20 Giraffe and a herd of Wildebeest. They seemed to sense quite well that this Elephant was in no mood to take crap from anybody. As the waiting continues, the plain fills with Impala, one horny male chasing around the females, and two family groups of Kudu. When the Elephant leaves after an elaborate dust batch, a veritable melee of Giraffe necks mirrors itself in the water's edge.

Tsumcor

Seldom visited before, because usually empty, we decided to have a look anyway, and find some 25 Elephants drinking along the now well-filled trough. We approach fairly closely and enjoy the sight and the flocks of Shaft-tailed Widows in the trees around us. Then the Elephants clearly want to leave and start do display some unease: they seem to want to use the path that crosses the parking on which we're now standing. I move back, which gets us a clear view of a new Cuckoo, the Great Spotted. The Elephants aren't satisfied yet, they want more space as their flapping ears start to indicate, so we leave them in peace.

Aroe

Although upon our arrival the sightings book at the office spoke of a large group of Lions hanging around here, we didn't get to see any there (or, in fact, anything). But not too far away, we pass a young Pale Chanting Goshawk in a tree along the road, and slightly further away a Lanner Falcon is perched. The Goshawk flies off, heading straight towards the Falcon, and chases him from his perch. Aerial combat now ensues, with the two birds seeking the advantage over each other with their different flying techniques: the Goshawk with it's agility in short bounces, and the Falcon with its superior speed in great swoops. It seems to end in a draw. As an experienced Zimbo later commented on this display: 'Yes, they can be quite cheeky, those young Goshawks'.

Dik-dik Draai

This little circuit through prime Dik-dik country wasn't as productive, Dik-dik wise, as last year. Still, we did get to see a fair number, including a rather fierce fight between two males of this veritable behemoth among antelopes (in fact, it’s one of the smallest). And it certainly was fun to do the Dik-dik drive a few times after the proper ritual preparation, i.e. me putting on my special Dik-dik hunting hat, and one time be looking down through the bushes in order to spot a Dik-dik, and then rather suddenly be looking up at a huge male Elephant ...