Submitted by SafariADV on Wed, 2017-10-11
This morning we wake up very early, we want to enter the Etosha National Park as soon as possible; it's crazy cold, but we're quickly getting ready, drink a coffee and we're already in the car.
We drive the few miles away from the Andersson's gate and we arrive when they are opening.
There are a few cars, but we can get into it almost immediately; once inside, we go first to Okaukuejo to pay the entrance fee and then continue, today we explore the Westernmost part of the park.
This area has recently opened to visitors, before 2015, in fact, only those who stayed in this area could access it; today, instead, everyone can drive along the trails that are located here.
First of all we go to the Ghost Forest or Sprokieswoud, so called because there are some Moringa ovalifolia trees here; these trees, that look like baobabs but smaller, are very beautiful and when they do not have the leaves, as in winter, they risk to be mistaken with baobabs, but looking at them carefully you understand that they are different.
Unfortunately, to protect them from the elephants, they had to fence them and this has taken away some fascination from this place; if you want to see them, it is better to go to Halali, the two hills that are in that area are literally covered with these wonderful trees.
We go on and move over to the bridge that is shown on the maps as the Charl Marais Dam, the river below is dry and in its bed we only see zebras, wildebeests and springboks; not far from the bridge, however, we see three giant elephants, they are a bit distant but it is impossible not to be impressed by their beauty.
From here we go to see the Ozonjuitji m'Bari pond, there are usually many animals here and there are so many zebras, so many wildebeests and we are watching the fight between two males for the right on the females, and there are also several oryxes with puppies, the unavoidable springboks, a group of ostriches and the jackals that, as it is often the case, move around furtive in the hope of finding something to eat.
We continue along the main road, the only one that ventures into this part of the park, and we go to see the Sonderkop pool where, in addition to the usual animals, we also notice some red hartebeests; while on the road we meet a secretary bird; it is right on the edge of the road and very close to us, from this distance you can see how high it is, this bird can actually reach 150 cm in height, it is a shame that it flies away before we can take a picture.
We arrive at the Tobieroen waterhole, where we find a jackal standing above the stone indicating the deviation; it is there with its attentive look, it almost looks like a vigilant looking at whoever passes by, it is too funny.
We decide to continue to the Nossob pool and then return; when it comes to safaris, it's important to calculate travel times and to estimate the possible stops; in fact, it is compulsory to leave the park, or to enter the gate of the structures inside, tentatively within a specified time.
Nossob's waterhole is waiting for us for a show, the most beautiful sight of today, at least until now.
On the edge of the puddle there are several vultures, of different species; some bathe their feathers, others simply look around.
They are wonderful and we stay there a while to retrieve them with the binoculars; there are some examples of lappet-faced vulture, many white-backed vultures, hooded vultures and some Cape Vulture.
Voltures at first sight are not beautiful birds, but they are fascinating and very important in the savannah ecosystem because, like hyenas, they are cleaners, that is, they feed on carcasses that would otherwise be putrefying.
Unfortunately, many species of vultures are in danger, since they are victims of the conflict between man and nature, fortunately there are several projects that are working to protect them.
We go back along the main road; it is already 2.30pm and we said to ourselves "now no more stops, except for elephants, lions and rhinos," otherwise we could get late to the gate.
When we are near the Sonderkop waterhole, we see in the distance a bunch of elephants, there will be about 35 specimens; we take the deviation to the puddle and approach it, obviously maintaining the safety distance, there are other cars that may have gone too close to the pack, and two elephants are looking at them a bit too suspicious.
We set ourselves in a corner and enjoy the show, but never missing the most guarded specimens; there are several puppies, some will have a few months of life, and it is wonderful to see them enter the water and roll in the mud.
Some adult specimens, instead of drowning into the puddle, have lengthened their truncheons and are drinking directly from the tank that feeds the waterhole; these animals are too smart and they know that the water there is cleaner and clearer than that of the puddle.
We enjoy the scene for a while and then decide to go, though we could stay here for hours without ever tiring.
The next waterhole is Ozonjuitji m'Bari and, before turning and taking the track leading to the pond, we see that here are also elephants and many other animals, including several oryxes, many springboks, giraffes , ostriches, the inevitable wildebeests and zebras; a wonderful scene.
Then we take the deviation, and as we look at this scene that opens to our left, we see a black rhino on our right that is sitting quiet there not far from the road.
There are other cars but they seem to have not noticed it, too concentrated watching the elephants, so we point it to some of them; the rhino, in the meantime, stands up and shows itself in all its beauty.
He stays there for a while, looks around and then walks away from the road.
The sun is beginning to descend to the horizon and we have to leave the park, so we move away, a little bit reluctant, from this wonderful scene and head to the Andersson Gate.
Today, it was our last day in the Etosha National Park, at least for this trip, but we will soon return to this wonderful place.
