Limited Internet means you'll have to make do with our creative writing skills only.
Pictures to follow ASAP.
Breakfast at seven fifteen and the jump on the bus to visit Moon Rock before it gets too busy. As you may have guessed, it's a very rounded large hill that resembles the moon (or so the story goes).
Mmm.
Mmm.
The geology is interesting as the rock has layers that have been, and still are, pushed up by the expansion and contraction of the rock in the extreme temperatures.
The edge of an exposed rock.
A close view.
Eric tells us that this expansion and contraction can cause large slabs of the surface rock to be pushed up leaving them like this.
Eric also finds some sign that appear to be directing Antelope to the top of Moon Rock.
He wonders why they would want to go there as there's nothing to eat. Perhaps they just come to admire the view or spot where all their pals are on the plain below.
Eric tells us that this expansion and contraction can cause large slabs of the surface rock to be pushed up leaving them like this. 
Eric also finds some sign that appear to be directing Antelope to the top of Moon Rock.
He wonders why they would want to go there as there's nothing to eat. Perhaps they just come to admire the view or spot where all their pals are on the plain below.
We do see a Mongoose though.
Checking us out. Think this is a Slender Mongoose, although not able to see it's tail in the picture. It had a black patch at the end of its tail instead of the characteristic white patch at the Yellow Mongoose's tail.
There were also a family of Rock Hyrax warming themselves in the morning sunshine. They had better be careful as they are the main prey for the Eagles that live along the canyon.
The top of Moon Rock provides some good views over the park.
Distant view of the gorge.
Eric finds a good vantage point. You can see the campsite from here.
Apparently this (below) is where we will be going after lunch. One of the seven Verreaux's Eagle pairs that live along the gorge nest somewhere close to that slab of smooth rock on the side of the gorge in the middle of the picture. Hopefully we will see them later.
Back to the National Park, firstly for another walk around the grounds and to the campsite. See if we can see anything new.
Quite a few little birds around. A Dusky Sunbird in an Acacia.
To be identified. Sure we were told at the time but it's gone. Think it may possibly be a Sickle-winged Chat.
Actual not too blurred photos of the Acacia Pied Barbet.
African Pied Wagtail and a Laughing Dove
Black-throated Canary
A Brubru
Common Waxbill.
A Yellow Mongoose this time.
Ground Squirrel making a getaway.
Cape Bunting
From the hide we saw
a Hoopoe (blurred picture), a Kingfisher
and a very cute baby Rock Hyrax.
Red-winged Starling looking rather magnificent.
A quick trip to a viewing platform lower down the gorge for a better view of the waterfall and the downstream canyon.
Then to the restaurant for some lunch and to go through our 'what did we spot today' list for yesterday.
Quite a few little birds around. A Dusky Sunbird in an Acacia.
To be identified. Sure we were told at the time but it's gone. Think it may possibly be a Sickle-winged Chat.
Actual not too blurred photos of the Acacia Pied Barbet.
African Pied Wagtail and a Laughing Dove
Black-throated Canary
A Brubru
Common Waxbill.
A Yellow Mongoose this time.
Ground Squirrel making a getaway.
Cape Bunting
From the hide we saw
a Hoopoe (blurred picture), a Kingfisher
and a very cute baby Rock Hyrax.
Red-winged Starling looking rather magnificent.
A quick trip to a viewing platform lower down the gorge for a better view of the waterfall and the downstream canyon.
Then to the restaurant for some lunch and to go through our 'what did we spot today' list for yesterday.
Eric admires lovely salad with a friendly message inscribed on the plate in Honey with Balsamic Vinegar? Well it was dark and sweet with a Balsamic undertone anyway.
and some seriously disgusting looking Cream Soda drink, which was a bit of a mistake, even as a float.
Eric asks if it's radioactive.
It's seriously hot out there, too hot to be outside, and although there is one Englishman with us, he's too sensible to be part of the old saying 'only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun'.
An afternoon jaunt to the ravine is on the cards so we all return to our chalets - to apply sunscreen, insect repellent and a hat.
Various wildlife and landscapes are seen along the drive out.
We stop here to admire the views. Eric wonders if the sign is telling him to stop ranting. The guide tells him it means Black Ranges.
Back in the van and then great excitement follows as we spot these Giraffe.
Who do you think you're looking at?
Well OK then, I'll try and get a better view of you too.
(A little bit anthropomorphic, we know.)
This photo (below) courtesy of LM.
They have very long eyelashes.
We stop here to admire the views. Eric wonders if the sign is telling him to stop ranting. The guide tells him it means Black Ranges.
Back in the van and then great excitement follows as we spot these Giraffe.
Who do you think you're looking at?
Well OK then, I'll try and get a better view of you too.
(A little bit anthropomorphic, we know.)
This photo (below) courtesy of LM.
They have very long eyelashes.
More birds and animals than plants today. We walk along the boardwalk to view the gorge and the place where the Eagle's Nest was.
We think there may a chick in the nest but it's much too great a distance to attempt a photograph so we content ourselves with looking through the telescope, and even then it is quite small.
Eric says he can't see the nest (maybe that's because he's looking the other way - Duh!).
Some of the gorge sides were almost vertical.
Then we see the parent Eagle flying above us.
Through the binoculars we also picked out a Fish Eagle sitting on a tree across the gorge. It was facing the other way but turned it's head to look at us it appeared.
Very conveniently turning around to face us a few minutes later. It appeared to have something like a radio tag on.
It took off and soared above us.
Although we haven't shown you many plants today, there was one special plant. Of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh fame, and of these, it was the latter we saw (and smelt). It was, as you can imagine, quite pungent.
We had to climb up over this rocky area to find it (led by our guide, who knew exactly where it was). Rather good wind eroded shapes too.
The trunk is quite thick and it almost looks like there are no leaves on the tree when you first look.
Leaves are very thin but extremely smelly. So much so that, on gently crushing a leaf, someone standing five paces behind could smell it.
Returning down the rocky slope our Australian guide shows us a Millipede on a rock, only problem is that it has expired and is no more. Still good to see though.
The weather is holding fair although the are some wispy Cirrus clouds around. They don't look like a serious threat!
Back to the centre again for an early dinner. This is because there is a night ride on offer in the Park's open top bus/vehicle.
Had to try the Malva pudding here as well to compare it with the previous offerings.
Pick up some warm layers for our nighttime sortie. They have spotlights bus that scan across the landscape to pick out any likely sightings. It is important with some species, such as Owl, not to shine the light in their eyes but about four feet below.
View form the open-sided bus.
First we see a three-banded plover as we cross through the wetland area. As we didn't manage a good photo of this you'll have to content yourself with this photo of evening reflections in the wetland instead
Then a great sighting, a Spotted Eagle Owl.
First in silhouette - are you able to distinguish it from the branches?
Perhaps this is more convincing.
and then we see the real thing.
At one point the owl was looking directly at us but its body was actually facing the other way.
Had to try the Malva pudding here as well to compare it with the previous offerings.
Pick up some warm layers for our nighttime sortie. They have spotlights bus that scan across the landscape to pick out any likely sightings. It is important with some species, such as Owl, not to shine the light in their eyes but about four feet below.
View form the open-sided bus.
First we see a three-banded plover as we cross through the wetland area. As we didn't manage a good photo of this you'll have to content yourself with this photo of evening reflections in the wetland instead
Then a great sighting, a Spotted Eagle Owl.
First in silhouette - are you able to distinguish it from the branches?
Perhaps this is more convincing.
and then we see the real thing.
At one point the owl was looking directly at us but its body was actually facing the other way.
We also saw some of the same species we'd seen in the day, including the Eland, and the Giraffe. The darkness was closing in by this point.
The Giraffe here are able to sleep sitting down as they have no predators - can't imagine how difficult it must be for the to get up again though. In the Kalahari they have to sleep standing up to be aware of the animals that will eat them.
The Giraffe here are able to sleep sitting down as they have no predators - can't imagine how difficult it must be for the to get up again though. In the Kalahari they have to sleep standing up to be aware of the animals that will eat them.
At one stop we switch off the vehicle and light from the bus to view the stars. An explanation of how to navigate using the Southern Cross is given, planets seen and Antares - this is a Red Giant star. Also a very fuzzy globular nebula, and the Milky Way.
An attempt was made to capture the night sky (ha ha) - well you can see a few of the stars we could see.
An attempt was made to capture the night sky (ha ha) - well you can see a few of the stars we could see.
It's colder on the way back and we are glad we have that extra layer on.
The day is not finished yet as we undertake a brisk walk to the waterfall, which is illuminated at night and they are switched off at nine thirty. Just enough time to get there before they do.