Between drives around Nossob, I also spent a lot of time in camp.
Setting up my tent was a quick exercise. I had delightful neighbours, and my camping experience in Nossob was really fantastic. The communal ablutions are the best that I’ve experienced. And my fellow campers were just a bunch of wonderful people.
The wonderful camp sightings started as I arrived. The first was a pair of Spotted Eagle-Owls that I saw every day.
Next up was a White-faced Owl and a little Scops Owl.
While I was having my early morning coffee one morning, I heard the drumming of a Woodpecker and then saw the Cardinal Woodpecker in a tree near my campsite.
The hide at the waterhole was an absolute delight. I have watched the activities at the waterhole on the webcam for years, and have really missed the sights since the cam broke more than a year ago.
There was always some activity around the hide and the waterhole. Some of the birds included Kalahari Scrub-robins and a little Pririt Batis.
There were lots of other birds around the hide – Cape Crows, Fork-tailed Drongos, Crimson-breasted Shrikes and a cute little Black-chested Prinia.
It wasn’t just birds that sniffed around the hide. There was a little group of Ground Squirrels.
There was also a resident pair of Yellow Mongoose.
The waterhole was also a big attraction for the animals.
The bokkies were all very thirsty.
I loved the reflection of the animals in the water.
When the bokkies were not having a drink, they were chasing each other around the waterhole.
There was a little family group of Ground Squirrels that had their burrow under the tree where I pitched my tent. They are incredibly cute.
I also had an opportunity to use the macro lens with these guys.
Another one tried to steal my sandwich as I was making it!
I went for a walk on my first night in camp. It was fairly chilly. I did not see much. I was hoping for a specific venomous scorpion, but I only found an Uroplectes vittatus scorpion and a Huntsman Spider.
These were not the only after dark creatures I encountered.
On the evening that I went for s sunset drive, I had an early braai.
But on the nights that I was in camp, there was a pair of Black-backed Jackals that came sniffing about during braai time every night.
After my braai in the evenings I would switch off my light and sit in the dark. The starry sky was beyond words. The Milky Way was bright and clear and seemed close enough to touch. I even saw a shooting star!
The night time moment of the trip happened on my first night at Nossob. I was woken up at 03h06 by the most incredible sound. I lay in my tent listening to lions roar.
Close by.
VERY close by.
I recorded the sound and thought I would be able to go back to sleep. But the roaring did not stop. In fact, it sounded as if it was coming closer. So, I got up and walked to the fence. I scanned with my flashlight to see if I could pick up any eyes, but even though the lion was awefuly close, I could not see him.
But I could hear him. Loud and clear. And the goosebumps were real. Very real.
There were a few other campers at the fence, listening and scanning like I did. We could hear that there was more than one lion roaring. The sound moved towards the direction of the hide. I grabbed a warm jacket and rushed to the hide. I was just in time.
It was such an incredible experience. I have only heard lions roar a couple of times and never this close. As I crawled back into my sleeping bag, I was very happy, and if I did not see lions again, it would be ok, because this sighting was extremely cool.
I found two reptile lifers in the walkway to the hide. One was a Kalahari Tree Skink.
The other was a Karrasburg Tree Skink. I loved how it sat with its little hand in the air!
When I went for an afternoon stroll, I noticed a splash of colour.
The Nossob sunrises were worth waiting for.
I really, really enjoyed my stay in Nossob Camp. It is one of the best camps I have stayed in. The facilities are impeccable, and the staff are extremely friendly. I absolutely cannot wait for my next visit!