Goegap Nature Reserve, Pofadder and Beyond.
This is the logo on their truck in 'Click' language
The landscape also encompasses old Manganese mine workings, with a slag heap of fairly large proportions. Some water erosion on the sides of the tip is already showing, and we imagine the amount of polluting dust that will blow off this in a high wind.
Before we reach the Visitor Centre a Gemsbok, a different Antelope species, is seen grazing. Yes there is some vegetation, and these animals do not need to drink water, they obtain what they need from what they eat.
We arrive at the buildings and immediately see some new species
A Glossy Starling
A new flower
and an Orange River White-eye
and some familiar ones by now - these Baboons were quite a long way away on a ridge behind the Centre, but were very vocal.
There are some posters in the Visitor Centre but the main bit of interprative material has been moved to the nearest town, they do not have enough staff to man the exhibition here.
We make do with the posters, which tell us why the area is so important.
and dangerous snakes to look out for - nice.
There are two parts to the garden. One is in a sort of quadrangle inside the buildings and has a collection of un-natural looking natural plants
Rainfall in the area is erratic, and winter day time temperatures can range from minus ten degrees centigrade to a mild twenty five. In summer it's a lot hotter! (Can be over forty degrees centigrade).
The outdoor garden area is perhaps more interesting
An earlyish start this morning, breakfast at seven to leave with bags packed at eight.
Not far to go before reaching the reserve. Although only a provincial park, the animals have approximately fifteen thousand hectares to roam free. (?Cf Wales) There are a mixture of animals that have arrived under their own steam, and some introduced native ones (for their protection). It is run by the Northern Cape Department of Environment and Nature Conservation.
This is the logo on their truck in 'Click' language
There is a visitor centre, a circular driving trail, plus a succulent garden. It looks like they are also developing horseback trails and ones for four-wheeled vehicles.
The landscape 'encompasses typical granite koppies and sandy plains of Namaqualand.'
Eric admires the koppies and sand landscape.
The landscape also encompasses old Manganese mine workings, with a slag heap of fairly large proportions. Some water erosion on the sides of the tip is already showing, and we imagine the amount of polluting dust that will blow off this in a high wind.
Before we reach the Visitor Centre a Gemsbok, a different Antelope species, is seen grazing. Yes there is some vegetation, and these animals do not need to drink water, they obtain what they need from what they eat.
We arrive at the buildings and immediately see some new species
A Glossy Starling
A new flower
and an Orange River White-eye
and some familiar ones by now - these Baboons were quite a long way away on a ridge behind the Centre, but were very vocal.
There are some posters in the Visitor Centre but the main bit of interprative material has been moved to the nearest town, they do not have enough staff to man the exhibition here.
We make do with the posters, which tell us why the area is so important.
and dangerous snakes to look out for - nice.
There are two parts to the garden. One is in a sort of quadrangle inside the buildings and has a collection of un-natural looking natural plants
Rainfall in the area is erratic, and winter day time temperatures can range from minus ten degrees centigrade to a mild twenty five. In summer it's a lot hotter! (Can be over forty degrees centigrade).
The outdoor garden area is perhaps more interesting
Eric find a tree that is his size.
We wander among the display gardens, spotting birds, small mammals and lizards as we go.
A Fiscal Shrike
Spiny Aloe
Familiar Chat
Mesembryanthemum - there is almost a honeycomb pattern on the green parts and droplets of water have accumulated here, glistening in the sunlight. These honeycomb depressions may well contain the stomata - something we'll need to check up on later.
As we drove around the loop road, where we weren't allowed out of the bus, we also saw Springbok and...Jackal.
He was looking at us as we were looking at him.
Then he sauntered away
A number of new birds too - Mountain Wheatear, Anteater Chat, Familiar Chat, Orange River White Eye and the Acacia Pied Barbet, The last was a very smart bird, grey with green speckled wings, a red brow with yellow eyebrow and black mask on it's face. The photo possibly would have been good if it had been in focus!
Also sighted two Jackal Buzzard sitting on a monster rock high above the plains. Looking at these through the telescope, they have a handsome rufous front. They were too far away for a good photo op to show this feature. Great rock too! A man with a large nose and a big chin?
Further views of the plains and koppies, plus the slag heap!
Back at the Restrooms before we depart - a Rock Martin resting for a change
Next stop Pofadder. This town has built up around serving the mining industry in the area. Lunch is in a roadside garage cafe, where they have an interesting assortment of food, gifts and sweeties for sale.
Eric illustrates some of the offerings (the till he's sitting on is just a prop - we think).
After ordering choices of toasted sandwiches or pies, we choose soft drink bottles, crisps and other snacks and... Magnum ice-cream. The lady tots up the bill after we've eaten based on the empty bottles and wrappers.
A restroom break requires a two Rand coin in a slot, and then pushing your way through an eight foot tall turnstile. If you delay too long after putting the coin in it locks you out again. Facilities are clean, but how does one get out through the turnstile? It seems to only turn one way. A moments panic before spotting a discreetly placed green button that allows opposite motion.
Our next nature stop is not far, just past the local high school in Pofadder. Here our guide offers an ice-cream based incentive to the first person to find a Lithops.
These are little succulent plants that resemble stones - we are searching a piece of waste ground next to the local High School.
These are little succulent plants that resemble stones - we are searching a piece of waste ground next to the local High School.
After spreading out to search the ground a Lithops is discovered - can you see it? It's quite hard to distinguish from the surrounding rubble and stones.
Then suddenly , once you 'got your eye in' they were everywhere (well quite a few around anyway)
Not only that but also - a snake!
Very colourful, and possibly dangerous (?) and even though very small, everyone keeps a respectful distance. A good find. More research later finds that it is a Common Egg Eating Snake - so not deadly after all (well not to us anyway).
There was also a very spiny plant that looked dead but was not
Further along the road on our travels, a stop at a picnic lay-by yielded a Sociable Weaver nest.
This was an amazing site. Each nest is individual, but all grouped together. A very stylish thatched residence.
A closer view, with the birds going in.
This was an amazing site. Each nest is individual, but all grouped together. A very stylish thatched residence.
A closer view, with the birds going in.
Some are feeding on the ground making some very pretty chirps and cheeps. The bird itself is also very handsome, with a rather chunky blue beak.
Back on the road again, passing different scenery along the way.
including passing a vineyard with our first viewing of a Hamerkop - it has a head that makes it look a bit like a Pteradactyl.
Our next stop is the accommodation for two nights. No Internet again. Might take us a while to clear the blog backlog!
Arriving at our new accommodation we find that it is actually in Augrabies National Park;
Eric thinks the sign makes it sound like it won't be very peaceful
It has chalets and a restaurant - they even have swimming pools - but these appear to have no water in. We are warned not to leave anything around outside the chalet or it might go missing - the wildlife here is apparently more cheeky.
Eric thinks the sign makes it sound like it won't be very peaceful
It has chalets and a restaurant - they even have swimming pools - but these appear to have no water in. We are warned not to leave anything around outside the chalet or it might go missing - the wildlife here is apparently more cheeky.
We see one of the alleged perpetrators running away. It's a Vervet Monkey.
and again later.
There are Baboons here as well.
A quick clothes washing exercise is followed by a walk to the waterfall.
Eric finds a bit of a precarious perch
and then decides this one looks safer for a better look
there are also a viewing points further away to get a different angle on the gorge.
The waterfall is good to see, despite there being a low flow in the river. There are photos at the visitor centre showing how the area looked when it is in flood. It's hard to believe that the plateau above the gorge was so flooded that water was pouring into the canyon all along the rim opposite the viewing platform. In fact, at times the water has even flooded the cabins where we are staying, and cut off the roads into the park. Luckily, the weather forecast is set fine for the next few days so we shouldn't be stranded.
Lots of other things to see along here, and the weather is sunny and hot. Some stunning looking lizards, an Augrabies Flat Lizard;
a Sea Eagle, a Black Stork, Alpine Swift,
a new species of Bulbul,
Canary and Rock Martin all make for exciting viewing.
Plus this little fella (or more likely gal?) putting on a show - a Black-chested Prinia. Could also be the buff morph
Another Hamerkop sited on the opposite side of the gorge, a better view of that head this time.
Where it flew down into a depression with some fresh water in, making for a fascinating silhouette.
The rock structures are fascinating, with lots of round holes where the river has carried a rock and scoured the same position.
Our guide reckons that these scouring rocks had come down from the diamond fields and may have contained diamonds hard enough to make holes this big and deep. So we should look in the sand at the bottom of some of the holes and we might be rich!
The shadows are lengthening and it is time to make our way back. Photo courtesy of LM.
Returning along a different path we pass some different varieties of Acacia trees, with very different seed pods.
Return to base for a very good dinner and so to bed.