Etosha National Park, Namibia

Having closed the book on south america (yes it's closed, we did everything, no need to go back) we landed in south africa experienced travellers. As such, here's how we handled our first obstacle... morning after landing in Jo'burg we rent a car and head for Namibia. Second night on the road we set up camp in Namibia circa 10 o'clock and go looking for groceries. Finding the only open grocery in town to have 20 ne'erdowell's loitering out front we tuck tail and run to the closest fast food joint, quite fittingly named "Wimpy's".

Also en route we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn. Namibia was nice enough to bring our attention to this fact.
After 3 days of driving we hit camp just outside Etosha Park. Morning rises and so do we, I swear. We enter the park and the first watering hole does not dissappoint complete with a pack of a dozen or so giraffes, they're big. We then start a cruise around what's known as fisher's pan. 5 minutes in we spot a pack of zebra's in the distance. we wait patiently in zen like silence as they approach our white vehicle with black trim, possibly thinking us to be one of their own. our patience pays off as they approach within 30 yards of the vehicle, one of them even looked at me. Little did we know zebras are like squirrels in etosha, with dozens more packs just waiting to block our car as we drive by in search of more elusive animals.

Etosha's full of watering holes, both natural and man-made. It was dry which meant the animals had to come out to the main watering holes to satisfy their thirst. Sucks for them, good for us. Our two days there essentially consisted of touring from watering hole to watering hole, spotting some animals in between and logging some time at the campsite pools. life's tough. So let's get to the animals.

There's a wide variety of gazelle like creatures in etosha, the most common of which would certainly be the springbok. Here's a pack enjoying some water with a kudu and a warthog. close up of some kudu..
gemsbok...
can't remember the name of this one so let's go with, say, redbok...Giraffes and gemsbok living together in peace, drinking from the same watering hole, never thought I'd see the day. zebras...
warthog..

second day we spot a pack of 3 elephants heading to cross the road. we position ourselves for a close up. As they approach the front one changes course straight for the car. having heard stories of protective mothers doing some car crushing our heart rate kicks up a notch. I consider how fast I could start the car and floor it should the need arise. flash backs hit me of learning to drive standard and hope that the nickname hop-and-stall doesn't make a comeback. thankfully our paranoia was entirely unfounded as it seems the elephant simply wanted to let us know who's the man...

wildebeast...

At this one watering hole there was a pack of elephants endulging themselves for quite some time. Apparently rhinos and elephants don't share. A nearby rhino takes about an hour to build up the courage to step up to the elephants. takes him some time but he clears 'em all out and proceeds to go for a drink. not 5 five seconds later a second pack of thirsty elephants shows up, charges the rhino and sends him back to the waiting room.

popular watering hole...

second day after only distant views of lions we get some good face time with one...

giraffes and sunset.. good combo.

M