Day 2..... We got up at 5:30am and went on a driving safari in Etosha National Park. I must say that seeing the animals in their
own habitat was amazing. Our guide was a bush man and so full of knowledge. He spent the greater part of the morning teaching us so many things. It was absolutely amazing.
The Guinea Fowl were everywhere. The would be walking down the side of the road, scratching for food and when our car came by they would bolt into the middle of the road and run ahead of us for some time and then fly to the side again. I'm not sure why they ran into the road though.
The Wildebeest is an unusual looking animal. The guide said that they look at this animal as though it was made of left over parts. The horns of a cow, skin of a Worthog, and tail of a horse, These are big animals.
Our guide was showing us how to know when the elephant had passed this way. He picked up some of the elephant dung and explained about the food the elephant was eating and how his tribe uses this for medicine. If they are ill, they boil the dung with all the undigested parts of sticks and leaves that have medicinal properties and then smear the boiled paste on their bodies and do become well. We found all this information so very fascinating. He was such a knowledgeable guide.
"The termite mounds always bend toward the north so if you are lost in the forest, you just look at the termite mounds and it will tell you where is north and you will always find your way." Of course, I'm thinking of the lions and leopards that will know where I am.....if I'm walking here....and make lunch of me....... There are signs everywhere requiring us to stay in the car..... hmmmmm.
This day we only saw one elephant. He was going somewhere and was not concerned nor interested in our being there or the other cars. He set his face to the path and did not stop for anything.
The red Hartbeest is quite large also. We saw it several times with the Springbok. Their horns are really interesting...facing backwards.
The giraffe is so regal. We saw them alone and occasionally in pairs. We were told that the color of the spots shows the age of the giraffe. The darker the spots, the older the animal. They are also the favorite food of the lions.
The Springbok are everywhere in the park There are thousands. And they stay together. Here they are crossing the road to get to the watering hole.
The bushman guide told us that whenever the Springbok are all standing at attention and looking in one direction, you can be sure there is a lion or leopard nearby. We watched these Springbok stand and keep watch for a long time. We were not able to see the lion, but they were on alert.
If you look really closely in the back behind the trees to the right....you will see the giraffe watching us watch him.
These birds are called the alarm birds. When a lion or leopard comes near, they will start to call out to warn the other creatures in the area to watch out. They also called out to warn that we were there.
The Zebra was fabulous. They all look so amazing and not all have the same color white in the stripe. Some are more tan. They were in herds.....travelling together and with their babies. Amazing.
The guide was so excited when we saw the Honey Badger cross the road. He told us that he had only seen one other in two years. We were so glad to have the opportunity to see it too.
We returned to the lodge for lunch and a rest during the heat of the day and then went out again in the evening to see more animals with a bushman woman. The only one we saw other than giraffe and Springbok was a Leopard. It is so camouflaged that it is difficult to see.
Africa is so unique with it's animals that are found no where else. To see the uniqueness of each one is breath taking. What a wonderful experience this was.
The Guinea Fowl were everywhere. The would be walking down the side of the road, scratching for food and when our car came by they would bolt into the middle of the road and run ahead of us for some time and then fly to the side again. I'm not sure why they ran into the road though.
The Wildebeest is an unusual looking animal. The guide said that they look at this animal as though it was made of left over parts. The horns of a cow, skin of a Worthog, and tail of a horse, These are big animals.
Our guide was showing us how to know when the elephant had passed this way. He picked up some of the elephant dung and explained about the food the elephant was eating and how his tribe uses this for medicine. If they are ill, they boil the dung with all the undigested parts of sticks and leaves that have medicinal properties and then smear the boiled paste on their bodies and do become well. We found all this information so very fascinating. He was such a knowledgeable guide.
"The termite mounds always bend toward the north so if you are lost in the forest, you just look at the termite mounds and it will tell you where is north and you will always find your way." Of course, I'm thinking of the lions and leopards that will know where I am.....if I'm walking here....and make lunch of me....... There are signs everywhere requiring us to stay in the car..... hmmmmm.
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| Ostrich |
 |
| Black-faced Impala doe |
 |
| near the water hole where the animals gather |
This day we only saw one elephant. He was going somewhere and was not concerned nor interested in our being there or the other cars. He set his face to the path and did not stop for anything.
The red Hartbeest is quite large also. We saw it several times with the Springbok. Their horns are really interesting...facing backwards.
The giraffe is so regal. We saw them alone and occasionally in pairs. We were told that the color of the spots shows the age of the giraffe. The darker the spots, the older the animal. They are also the favorite food of the lions.
 |
| Blue Wildebeest, black faced Impala, Springbok |
The Springbok are everywhere in the park There are thousands. And they stay together. Here they are crossing the road to get to the watering hole.
 |
| Blue Wildebeest |
The bushman guide told us that whenever the Springbok are all standing at attention and looking in one direction, you can be sure there is a lion or leopard nearby. We watched these Springbok stand and keep watch for a long time. We were not able to see the lion, but they were on alert.
 |
| Warthog |
 |
| crossing the road |
If you look really closely in the back behind the trees to the right....you will see the giraffe watching us watch him.
 |
| Grey Lourie |
These birds are called the alarm birds. When a lion or leopard comes near, they will start to call out to warn the other creatures in the area to watch out. They also called out to warn that we were there.
 |
| Black-faced Impala |
The Zebra was fabulous. They all look so amazing and not all have the same color white in the stripe. Some are more tan. They were in herds.....travelling together and with their babies. Amazing.
The guide was so excited when we saw the Honey Badger cross the road. He told us that he had only seen one other in two years. We were so glad to have the opportunity to see it too.
We returned to the lodge for lunch and a rest during the heat of the day and then went out again in the evening to see more animals with a bushman woman. The only one we saw other than giraffe and Springbok was a Leopard. It is so camouflaged that it is difficult to see.
Africa is so unique with it's animals that are found no where else. To see the uniqueness of each one is breath taking. What a wonderful experience this was.
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