Halali waterholes

Walk around woodland in camp in morning then drive back out to Rietfontein, Salvadora, Suaeda and Charitsaub returning back quite early. Look around campsite in afternoon then up to waterhole before dinner.

Campsite

An early morning walk through the Mopane woodland proved fairly quiet but in mid-afternoon we did find a family party of four Damara Violet Wood-hoopoe and were shown two roosting Barn Owls. Grey-backed Camaroptera, Groundscraper Thrush, Red-billed Buffalo-weaver, Golden-breasted Bunting and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting were also seen and hundreds of Double-banded Sandgrouse came into drink in the evening.

A late afternoon till dark watch of the waterhole was very productive with two young male Lions, three Black Rhinoceros, 13 Elephants, an African Wild Cat and a Slender Mongoose. A Cape Fox was seen after dinner but we were unable to find any Honey Badgers. Tree Squirrel (Smith’s Bush Squirrel) were also running around the camp site.

Our first waterhole was the short drive back to Rietfontein with four Secretary Birds, a Bateleur, a Black-shouldered Kite, four Greater Kestrel, two Double-banded Coursers, six Kori Bustards, four Northern Black Koorhan, lots of Grey-backed Finch-lark and Spike-heeled Lark on route,

A Yellow Mongoose also gave great views.

Reitfontein

Our “quick” look at the waterhole turned into a more prolonged stay as a female lion was showing right out in the open and very close to the assembled audience. It then became apparent that there were another seven lions sleeping under an acacia bush close by. There were plenty of other mammals drinking with lots of Kudu, several Giraffe and Red Hartebeest and six Elephants.

There were also lots of birds with Martial Eagle, African Hawk-eagle, five Tawny Eagles, a Steppe Eagle, two Bateleur, a few Namaqua Sandgrouse, Hoopoe, two Red-breasted Swallows, two Groundscraper Thrushes and about 100 Chestnut-backed Finch-larks.

Salvadora

Our next stop was fairly quiet with just Cape Teal new for the trip and hundreds of Springboks coming in to drink.

Charitsaub

Two White-headed Vultures flew over and a Secretary Bird, several Kori Bustards and a Lilac-breasted Roller were seen.

Suaeda

This was also quiet although a male Northern Black Koorhan walked to within a few feet of the car and a pair of Pied Crows used the car as a perch.