Submitted by SafariADV on Sun, 2017-10-08
We arrived at the Von Lindequest gate at 9.30am, we could not have been faster than this!
We complete all the formalities and get in, how nice it is to be here, each time it's as if it is the first and we're excited.
We walk along the paved road leading to Namutoni and immediately see a Damara Dik Dik, they are often noticed around here, probably they prefer the vegetation that is in this place; we get to Namutoni, we go to pay the entrance fee, buy some things at the store and then go for the safari.
First of all, we decide to follow the path that runs around the Fischer Pan, it is 27 km long and runs on the edge of the pan; during the rainy season the pan is filled with water, but now it is completely dry and salty; here a few plants grow: some palm trees, some clumps of grass and some shrubs.
We go to see the two puddles along this path, Twee Palms and Aroe, but they are both dry and we see some spingboks, that in the Etosha are ubiquitous; then, as we slowly walk into an area of acacia bushes, we see a dark shadow hidden among the branches and we recognize it immediately: it is a wonderful black rhino!
We turn off the engine immediately, so as not to disturb it, even if it is not near the road, and shortly afterwards it comes out of the bushes with its muzzle, showing itself in all its beauty; rhinos are wonderful animals, and only to the thought that they are at risk of extinction for stupid superstitions and strange beliefs it is really sad.
We also spot some giraffes, busy eating acacias, zebras, some wildebeests and when we are almost at the end of the trail, we see a huge elephant crossing the pan and heading towards Namutoni, most likely going to the pond of the camping, the King Nehale, that is always full of water.
After the loop, we also go to see the Klein Okevi and Groot Okevi ponds but there is no water and therefore, except for the usual springboks we see nothing; we go back to Namutoni and from there we take the road to Halali.
From this main road you access several ponds, some permanent ones, because they are water springs or because they are filled by man, you also access some loops that allow you to explore the park more thoroughly, these are secondary roads and they cannot always be driven by 2x4 cars, it is better to get info before venturing.
Today we only explore the part of the park near Namutoni since for tonight our camping is just outside the Von Lindequest entrance; as first thing we head to the artificial puddle of Kalkheuwel, here we see some oryxes, springboks, zebras that drink and every now and then, one does not understand why, one gets scared and everybody gets away, to then come back a little later, as if nothing happened, and some giraffes that, when they drink, seem to struggle, widen their paws and lower their neck, they are too nice to see.
We stay here a while to admire what is happening and to look at the animals that come to drink and then leave, and we take the opportunity to have lunch; we got sandwiches this morning and we have everything we want to drink in the fridge.
At some point a group of impalas arrives, they are all male, they are recognizable because they have horns; in any other part of the African continent it would not be a noteworthy sight; instead here it is important since these are different impalas, they are in fact a different species and have a black vertical stripe on the muzzle, for this reason they are called black-faced impalas.
We decide to return to Namutoni and take the deviation to Chudop, a natural puddle that is permanent because it is a water spring; it is very choreographic, it is a small deep lake, with a bush in the center; here we have made exceptional sightings in the past so we look forward to seeing something, but you know, in safari every day is never the same and at all times everything can happen.
At some point hundreds of helmeted guinea fowls arrive, they run fast, and are a bit ridiculous; they get to the pond and crash on the shore, every now and then they get scared and fly away and then they come back always running.
On the other side of the puddle we see a movement, it's the unmistakable quick and a bit leaping step of the black-backed jackal, most likely it is looking for something to eat and wandering stealthily.
We drift a bit to this pond and then return to the main road and exit from the Von Lindequest Gate.
For today our safari is over, but tomorrow morning we will come back to the Etosha National Park.
