Another early breakfast to get to the game park as soon as possible,
Eric wanders through the garden while we finish breakfast.
We whizz through passport control and let down the tyres to the recommended pressure to help preserve the surface of the dirt road and are then on our morning's jaunt..
Drive to a number of waterholes along the Mata Mata road to hopefully repeat our big mammal sighting of yesterday.
Eric points out that this road just may have a risk of 'grounding' associated with it.
No such luck today with the mammals, but we get a good views of a number of new and previously spotted raptors:
Eric wanders through the garden while we finish breakfast.
We whizz through passport control and let down the tyres to the recommended pressure to help preserve the surface of the dirt road and are then on our morning's jaunt..
Drive to a number of waterholes along the Mata Mata road to hopefully repeat our big mammal sighting of yesterday.
Eric points out that this road just may have a risk of 'grounding' associated with it.
No such luck today with the mammals, but we get a good views of a number of new and previously spotted raptors:
Black Chested Snake Eagle
Tawny Eagle
Tawny Eagle pair - but not really a positive identification, they were too much in silouette. Thought it made a nice picture anyway.
Tawny Eagle
Tawny Eagle pair - but not really a positive identification, they were too much in silouette. Thought it made a nice picture anyway.
Pearl Spotted Owlet - it's very small - can you see it?
Verreaux's Eagle Owl
Same species of owl, different tree - can you spot this one?
This one was perhaps an inexperienced youngster. It was trying to nest in an old vulture nest right at the top of a tree and out in the open, but was being mobbed by three Pale Chanting Goshawk. So may not be successful.
Pygmy Falcon - the female and the male this time.
Greater Kestrel- this flew over the ridge before we could get a photograph but was positively ID'd by our guide before it did.
Lanner Falcon - think this is the picture, but will confirm
A picture of a Spotted Eagle Owl looking rather fierce.
Lunch is just a quick sandwich before heading off in a new direction, it is fairly quiet with no new sightings. Various landscapes and habitats fill the afternoon, together with some of the previously seen species.
There's a little Steenbok hiding in there somewhere.
In one area there is almost a 'river' of vegetation. Our guide explains that when it rains this area fills up with water draining from the surrounding land, and so the vegetation is greener where the water has lain for longer. 
The one thing about the landscape being quite open is that it is easier to spot the animals (when they are there!)
Eric spots some Gemsbok, but they are running away.
We return to the lodge to eat lunch and order our meals to pick up after tonight's evening drive before setting out again for a short drive this time.
How about this for a Sociable Weaver Nest? Quite spectacular. We wonder how long the tree will last with all that weight. We have been told that these nests are not only used by Pygmy Falcons as well as the Social Weaver, but also by snakes - with Puff Adders finding them particularly agreeable.
Another family of Meerkats - out in the open this time.
A Fawn-coloured Lark.
Namaqua Dove - great sighting, and actual a new one.
Yellow Hornbill.
Ostrich 'chicks'.
Spingbok and Gemsbok at a water hole.
And this is something we've seen a lot of since we've been in the Northern Cape but don't think I've included a picture before - White-browed Sparrow Weaver nests. They are in the same tree but are well separated, unlike the Sociable Weaver nest.
Whilst out with our Park Guide last night we had asked about a grey bush on the side of the road. He told us that it was a member of the pea family, has a yellow flower and that cattle liked to eat it. It makes their milk taste of the plant. He broke of a piece for us to smell. Today we saw the plant in flower.
We return once again to the camp and await tonight's sunset drive guide. The lady Ranger turns up in a smaller vehicle than last night and two other people join us, so it is a little more cramped, but once we set off it's not too noticeable.
Ostrich 'chicks'.
Spingbok and Gemsbok at a water hole.
And this is something we've seen a lot of since we've been in the Northern Cape but don't think I've included a picture before - White-browed Sparrow Weaver nests. They are in the same tree but are well separated, unlike the Sociable Weaver nest.
Whilst out with our Park Guide last night we had asked about a grey bush on the side of the road. He told us that it was a member of the pea family, has a yellow flower and that cattle liked to eat it. It makes their milk taste of the plant. He broke of a piece for us to smell. Today we saw the plant in flower.
We return once again to the camp and await tonight's sunset drive guide. The lady Ranger turns up in a smaller vehicle than last night and two other people join us, so it is a little more cramped, but once we set off it's not too noticeable.
Similar sightings to last night once darkness falls.
A Black-backed Jackal - it was at one of the water holes and was very jittery. We were hoping this meant that the Leopard or Hyena may be about, but no such luck.
African Wildcat - we saw her with her kittens just after this, two of them.
We then start our return waiting to listen for wildlife at a water hole about 5Km into the reserve. This was where Leopard and Honey Badger had been seen earlier in the day so we hope they may return. Put all the lights out and watch the lightning that was pretty spectacular on the horizon.
Nothing else appears.
When we come to set off, the open land rover we are in won't start. Completely no power. Deado. We now hope the Leopard may stay away, as we have to wait for a backup truck to be called to come and collect us.
The day ends happily and we make it back to pick up our meals, eating them on the way back returning to pack our bags for tomorrow's flight home.
After having great views of various already noted stuff the common theme for the day was a number of animal confrontations;
A Pale Chanting Goshawk trio trying to dislodge a Verreaux's Eagle Owl from a treetop nest;
A pair of Yellow Mongoose fighting over a territory;
An African Wildcat protecting her kittens from a Black Backed Jackal.
Another long, tiring but thoroughly enjoyable day/evening.