I’ve spent the last few days in Etosha National Park in the northern portion of Namibia game viewing. Etosha is known for it’s game viewing watering holes. Just like last time I visited here, the experience is fascinating. We spend part of a day game driving one does throughout the rest of the game parks throughout Africa. However, what I like best about Etosha, is it’s a place where most of the animals come to you. The park has numerous watering holes filled by pumps and all through the day/night various animals refresh themselves from the hot dry air.
Drink in hand, patiently sitting in a chair for hours I watch a small pond/watering hole on the other side of a waist high concrete barrier wall. Dozen’s of Zebra sip the cool water as Springbok and a few Jackals mingle in-between. Their thirst quenched they slowly and cautiously make their way into the treelined distance. As if there is ticket waiting system other animals make their way in. Elephants suck the water into their nose spew some on their sides to cool themselves off, suck more into their snout and blow it into their mouth. Rhino’s wander in and splash into the pond gulping water as they go. Oryx, Kudu, and Impala make their visit’s throughout the day too. With birds chirping overhead, a herd of 15 Giraffe appear in the distance, they are the most skittish and cautious of all the animals. They take and hour or more to step, stop, look, and scan the horizon for any predators hyper vigilant that when they are drinking they are most vulnerable. They eventually make the water edge, while a few stand sentry the others every so nervously spread their front legs bending their long necks to seek the needed refreshment.
Game viewing at a watering-hole while fun can be a test of patients. If you wait long enough eventually you’ll see everything. So, we make our way to the truck and head out into the bush. Driving down dusty gravel roads brown dry grass and green Acacia trees line the way. In-spite of the dry arid climate the Acacia tree sends a root hundreds or more feet deep to find water to maintain it’s health in this environment. We spot, Zebra, Impala, Springbok, Oryx, Kudu, Warthogs, Jackals, Hyena’s, and numerous birds in their natural habitat. And then, our first pride of lion for the day. The kings main fluffing in the wind as he lay only a few feet away two cubs frolic like little kittens batting and swatting each other as their mother looks annoyingly away. Poppa eventually lazily raises himself yawning while ever so looking ferocious by showing his teeth to settle the little ones down. Flopping himself back on the ground the kiddies snuggle up to his chin. A nudge of his nose against his offspring exudes a warming sense of love. He begins bathing them with this tongue as their face screams, “Ah, not a bath Dad!”
Today has become the day for Lion watching. Throughout the day we spot a dozen or more separate pride of lion each as regal as the next. We head back to the watering hole to spend the wee hours of the night taking in as much as we can until my eyelids close out the night.
My trip with Acacia Africa has come to an end and I now have 18 new found friends. Most are continuing on the path with them. I’m excited for them. Envious as I’d love to continue on as I’ve been to the remote areas new to them. They have many exciting adventures ahead as I make my way back to Cape Town to finish out this trip with a few more fun filled days.
