Tuesday Sept 13 – Gelbingen to Etosha National Park

THREE OUT OF FIVE AIN’T BAD

We only had one stop this morning, at a town to pick up some supplies, before we reached Etosha National Park at lunchtime. Once inside the gate we had a picnic lunch then went through the main gates into the park. Finally, we’re seeing animals!!!! We came across zebras by a watering hole and then not long after right beside the road. Giraffes were also nearby – most of us decided to delete the distance giraffe photos from the day before yesterday as we’re now getting much better images.

Giraffe in disguise

Once at the lodge, while Innocent checked us in, we wandered down to the watering hole. What a surprise awaited us. There was a herd of elephants, including several young ones, at the hole, about 30 metres from us. In the background there were zebras and giraffes waiting their turn to come into drink – there is obviously some sort of pecking order! There would have easily been more than 20 elephants.

Elephants cover themselves in mud to keep cool and keep insects off

Pecking order at the waterhole

  

Innocent was very lucky (or persuasive) and was able to get our accommodation for the next 2 nights in rondavels, right near the watering hole so my door is about 40 metres from where all the action is. Incredible! And the accommodation is great. Each round rondavel is divided into 2 different accommodation units with the beds enclosed in mosquito netting forming a ‘room’ about twice the size of my laundry. From the bed you can see out the double French doors onto a little fenced in private enclosure with seating, plus there is cushioned seating on the veranda, and a nice ensuite, all decked out, naturally, with a safari theme. All up, very impressive accommodation, and I’m glad I’m here for two nights.

This afternoon we went out on a game drive and saw several large bull elephants, lots of zebras, springbok, oryx, wildebeest, ostrich, jackals, and, eventually, lions. There were two lionesses with five lion cubs between them plus another lioness sleeping down in a hollow. Unfortunately the sun was behind them so it made photo-taking quite challenging from the truck.

Dinner tonight was another buffet but it was also Gillian’s birthday so Innocent and Cosmos had arranged a private room and the staff decorated it with party things which had been secretly bought a couple of days ago at one of our stops. One of the meats on offer tonight was kudu so I’ve now eaten oryx, eland and kudu – the eland lasagne being my favourite.

When we returned to our rondavels later in the evening, the waterhole was floodlit and a rhino was coming in for a drink - three of the big five in one afternoon. Not bad going – especially as we had been warned that we probably wouldn’t see any lions here!