Etosha National Park
Wednesday, August 24th: After making it safely out of Ngepi Camp, we had about 6 1/2 hours of driving ahead of us. All of which were on the same straight road. We arrived at Etosha National Park at about 2pm at Namatoni Camp. This is where a German camp used to be and they have a big white fort. We walked the camp and found the watering hole. We went for a drive in the afternoon and saw a large elephant herd. We saw our first black rhino, springbok and darma dik dik, as well as some sable. We returned to our camp before the gate closed. Jeff watched the sunset at the watering hole and saw a rhino, elephant, and a jackel. This was the night we had our first TRAGEDY! Our air-mattress had a hole!! We ended up on the ground by morning and were very sad about this. After looking for it for quite awhile, we were unable to find the leak (stay tuned...). Animal Sightings: Black Rhino, Springbok, Darma Dik Dik, Elephant and Jackel.
Thursday, August 25th: We headed out at sunrise for the next restcamp called Halali. We stayed there for two nights. On our way we saw very few animals. Some giraffe, elephants, antelope, etc. Once we arrived at the next camp, we decided to set up our tent. WE FOUND THE LEAK! Yup, we were able to find the leak in our air mattress and fixed it with our tire kit. Yay! Then we decided to relax by the pool for awhile. Well, "awhile" turned into 4 hours. It was nice to just hang out and relax. Jeff saw a herd of elephants, a rhino and a jackel at the watering hole. We headed back out driving in the afternoon. After arriving back by sunset, we decided to go to the watering hole to look for animals. In those two hours, we saw five black rhinos, three lions, and some jackels. Tonight's watering hole activities were quite interesting. The rhinos had some issues with each other and traded off drinking, grunting at each other and then chasing each other away.
Then amidst the drama, three lions came for a drink. The rhinos were not going to allow them to invade their turf, and one of the adolescent rhinos took it upon himself to chase the lions away. Well, eventually two of the lions (the adolescent males), decided to have a little fun with the rhino, and were surrounding him and swatting at his backside. He was not happy with this, but this distraction allowed the other lion (a female) to drink as much as she wanted.
After a few hours, we headed back for lunch (dinner). This was when TRAGEDY #2 happened. Jeff disappeared while I was making dinner and when I went looking for him, I found him tossing his cookies in the bushes. I spent the rest of the night taking care of my hubby and waking up every few hours to make sure he was ok. Let's just say that taking care of a sick person in a tent is not too pleasant (I'm sure he wasn't having fun either. ;). Animal Sightings: springbok, a grumpy black rhino, red hartebeast, giraffe, elephants, oryx, zebra, 3 lions, and 5 black rhinos.
Friday, August 26th: After a rough night, we decided to spend the day relaxing by the pool. We literally spent the whole day by the pool reading and people watching. There was this family of four with twins: a boy and a girl. They were about 8 and ran around the pool all day long. They had so much energy and switched between english and german. It was quite entertaining. After regaining some strength, Jeff felt up to going to the watering hole. We were only there a little while when I started feeling bad. I decided that I just wanted to go to sleep. I was woken up with the same curse Jeff had the night before, and had to deal with that all night.
Saturday, August 27th: Even after a rough night, we had to leave by 7am the next morning. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to have a pool day today too. While we were driving to the next rest camp, we had a LEOPARD walk across the road right in front of us. It was crazy! It just strutted around and then laid down in the grass to relax all day. As we drove through Etosha, the roads were all gravel and pretty bumpy in some areas. After a rough night, this wasn't too pleasant for my tummy. Jeff did his best to find the smooth spots in the road, but unfortunately the roads were pretty corregated and rocky.
We made it to our next campground but couldn't check in yet. Since I was still sick, I rested by the pool while Jeff headed to the watering hole to see some animals. After hanging out for awhile, Jeff got the brilliant idea to make us grilled cheese sandwiches on our one burner gas stove while lounging by the pool.
After lunch we headed to the watering hole. There was one really old male elephant and two rhinos that were dominating the watering hole. The poor giraffes were standing by looking so thirsty, but they were too scared to attempt to go near the watering hole. It took a really long time for the elephant and rhinos to finally leave, so that the giraffes could drink. They look so funny when they lean over to drink, because they have to spread their front legs way out to reach the water. It cracks me up every time. Animal Sightings: Leopard, Elephants, Giraffe, Rhinos, Jackels, antelope, etc.
Travel Tidbits: We hadn't been holding back on drinking the tap water at the campgrounds in Botswana. South Africa's water is said to be fine anywhere, but the books say to ask if the water is drinkable while in Botswana and some places in Namibia. However, if the water isn't filtered the way you are used to, it can upset your stomach. Jeff and I learned the hard way by getting sick. From then on out we only drank bottled water in Botswana and most of Namibia. You can take your chances, but it might be beneficial to be extra careful in these places and drink bottled water, unless you are positive the water is drinkable.
Thursday, August 25th: We headed out at sunrise for the next restcamp called Halali. We stayed there for two nights. On our way we saw very few animals. Some giraffe, elephants, antelope, etc. Once we arrived at the next camp, we decided to set up our tent. WE FOUND THE LEAK! Yup, we were able to find the leak in our air mattress and fixed it with our tire kit. Yay! Then we decided to relax by the pool for awhile. Well, "awhile" turned into 4 hours. It was nice to just hang out and relax. Jeff saw a herd of elephants, a rhino and a jackel at the watering hole. We headed back out driving in the afternoon. After arriving back by sunset, we decided to go to the watering hole to look for animals. In those two hours, we saw five black rhinos, three lions, and some jackels. Tonight's watering hole activities were quite interesting. The rhinos had some issues with each other and traded off drinking, grunting at each other and then chasing each other away.
Then amidst the drama, three lions came for a drink. The rhinos were not going to allow them to invade their turf, and one of the adolescent rhinos took it upon himself to chase the lions away. Well, eventually two of the lions (the adolescent males), decided to have a little fun with the rhino, and were surrounding him and swatting at his backside. He was not happy with this, but this distraction allowed the other lion (a female) to drink as much as she wanted.
After a few hours, we headed back for lunch (dinner). This was when TRAGEDY #2 happened. Jeff disappeared while I was making dinner and when I went looking for him, I found him tossing his cookies in the bushes. I spent the rest of the night taking care of my hubby and waking up every few hours to make sure he was ok. Let's just say that taking care of a sick person in a tent is not too pleasant (I'm sure he wasn't having fun either. ;). Animal Sightings: springbok, a grumpy black rhino, red hartebeast, giraffe, elephants, oryx, zebra, 3 lions, and 5 black rhinos.
Friday, August 26th: After a rough night, we decided to spend the day relaxing by the pool. We literally spent the whole day by the pool reading and people watching. There was this family of four with twins: a boy and a girl. They were about 8 and ran around the pool all day long. They had so much energy and switched between english and german. It was quite entertaining. After regaining some strength, Jeff felt up to going to the watering hole. We were only there a little while when I started feeling bad. I decided that I just wanted to go to sleep. I was woken up with the same curse Jeff had the night before, and had to deal with that all night.
Saturday, August 27th: Even after a rough night, we had to leave by 7am the next morning. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to have a pool day today too. While we were driving to the next rest camp, we had a LEOPARD walk across the road right in front of us. It was crazy! It just strutted around and then laid down in the grass to relax all day. As we drove through Etosha, the roads were all gravel and pretty bumpy in some areas. After a rough night, this wasn't too pleasant for my tummy. Jeff did his best to find the smooth spots in the road, but unfortunately the roads were pretty corregated and rocky.
We made it to our next campground but couldn't check in yet. Since I was still sick, I rested by the pool while Jeff headed to the watering hole to see some animals. After hanging out for awhile, Jeff got the brilliant idea to make us grilled cheese sandwiches on our one burner gas stove while lounging by the pool.
After lunch we headed to the watering hole. There was one really old male elephant and two rhinos that were dominating the watering hole. The poor giraffes were standing by looking so thirsty, but they were too scared to attempt to go near the watering hole. It took a really long time for the elephant and rhinos to finally leave, so that the giraffes could drink. They look so funny when they lean over to drink, because they have to spread their front legs way out to reach the water. It cracks me up every time. Animal Sightings: Leopard, Elephants, Giraffe, Rhinos, Jackels, antelope, etc.
Travel Tidbits: We hadn't been holding back on drinking the tap water at the campgrounds in Botswana. South Africa's water is said to be fine anywhere, but the books say to ask if the water is drinkable while in Botswana and some places in Namibia. However, if the water isn't filtered the way you are used to, it can upset your stomach. Jeff and I learned the hard way by getting sick. From then on out we only drank bottled water in Botswana and most of Namibia. You can take your chances, but it might be beneficial to be extra careful in these places and drink bottled water, unless you are positive the water is drinkable.
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