I did some birding as I drove from Augrabies to Springbok. I saw many Familiar chats and even some White-backed Vultures. I always love Scaly-feathered Weavers.
There were lots of Greater Kestrels, but I found this pair really special.
Two things that I added to my favourites list this year are Squeaky Toys (aka Sociable Weavers) and Quiver Trees. Then I saw something that combined these two things – a Sociable Weaver Nest in a Quiver Tree!
This was another day where I was in awe of the landscape. There is something about the perceived desolation of the Northern Cape that I find hard to describe. The Northern Cape is VAST. Between Kakamas and Aggenys the landscape is mostly brownish-white with this beautiful pinkish tinge. The n14 is so straight in places, you could not have drawn a straighter line with a ruler.
I felt happier than ever. My decision to do these road trips this year was the most brilliant decision ever!
The flowers started appearing just after Aggenys. It looked like white and pink and lavender snow.
As I approached Springbok the flower spectacle increased and I stopped often for photos.
Just before I reached Springbok, I noticed two camels. I can’t recall ever seeing these animals “in the wild” before, and this was a most unexpected sighting!
Springbok
I was still a little early to check in at the guest house, but was still able to get my key. I then headed to Nababeep. I had heard from people in Augrabies that the flowers at Nababeep were fantastic, and I was not disappointed. It looked as if Someone had taken all the orange paint ever produced and dumped it on this little town. There were carpets and carpets of orange daisies everywhere.
I stopped and sat between the flowers. If you ever wondered what orange feels like, I can confirm it feels like velvet.
It was breathtakingly beautiful.
I then drove to Goegap Nature reserve. There were daisies all along the road, and some of the bushes were huge!
At Goegap there were more flower carpets, but these had more colour variation – shades of orange and pink and yellow and purple and white.
I like to think this little Capped Wheatear is pointing at the flowers and saying “Just LOOK at this! Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?!”
I stopped at the little shop and walked around the garden. There was a beautiful Quiver Tree garden.
Then I headed to the loop around the reserve. I spotted this Jackal Buzzard.
There were lots of Capped Wheatears, a few Grey-backed Cisticolas, White-necked Ravens and Karoo Chats.
But is was all about the flowers. I think I may have photographed every flower in the reserve! Just when I thought I’d taken enough photos, I saw more beauty and had to stop again.
Add Quiver Trees and the brown of the koppies, and the contrasts were once again so incredible.
The flowers are almost too much. Almost.
As I drove back to Springbok, I felt a little exhausted. I had seen so many photos of the flowers before, but the photos does not come close to the reality of the flowers. The beauty of the flowers was so profound, it was almost overwhelming.
The spectacular day ended with a special full moon.
Namaqua National Park
The mist was very thick when I left for Namaqua NP the next morning. With the mist, the long gravel road and the birds, it took me about 2 hours to get to the Park. The mist was heavy in the Park a well. But the orange of the daisies was so intense, that despite the fact that the flowers remained closed, the beauty was obvious.
There were also carpets of yellow, purple and pink.
A little Steenbokkie was skittish as always.
When the sun tried to break through the mist the colours popped.
If the Southern Black Korhaan did not call, I would not have seen him in the mist.
I heard the Cape Clapper Larks. But the mist made it difficult to see them. I then I finally saw one as he did its lovely display next to the road. One landed in the road. Lifer ticked.
I did the loop twice before heading down to Soebatsfontein. I saw a little Southern Double-collared Sunbird.
The flowers were stunning in the mist.
The birdlife was absolutely amazing. I got three more lifers along the way! These includedBlack-eared Sparrowlarks, Karoo Lark and Grey Tit.
The flowers were not as intense as they were on the loop near reception, but it was still beautiful.
On the way back I saw a few of my favourite Larks – a small flock of Spike-heeled Larks.
I left the Park a little after lunch. The weather was not ideal, but it did not detract from the beauty of this wonderful Park.
Another wonderful day!
Clanwilliam
The sunrise was quite interesting when I left Springbok that morning.
I was driving along the N7 somewhere before the Northern Cape became the Western Cape when my eye caught something on rocks. It was on a twisty stretch of road, and it took me a little while to find a spot to safely turn around. The bird had flown to the eastern side of the road, and was sitting against the sun, but I could see it an its mate clearly – two ground Woodpeckers!
I had only seen these birds once before, and they were really far, and even with the bad light this was a great sighting. But then both of them flew to the opposite side of the road, and provided the perfect photo opportunity.
The smile that had been on my face the entire morning got infinitely wider!
At Vanrhynsdorp I took a quick detour to Nieuwoudville to see the waterfall. It was as stunning as I saw in the magazine article. And the flowers and Vanrhynspass added more enjoyment to the short trip.
But the stand out moment of the day (and perhaps the trip) came in the form of a reptile near the waterfall. A stunning, and fairly large Black Spitting Cobra (I had to confirm the ID with my brother). These snakes are only found along the western sections of the country, and there is no way I would ever find one of these beautiful creatures on my own.
Clanwilliam was a stop-over on the way to Cape Town. Part of my travels this year was to view a few churches that were all designed by Karl Otto Hager. Clanwilliam was home to one of these churches, but sadly I no longer have the photo.
There were flowers all along the road as I drove south. I had a permanent smile on my face.
It was very cold in Clanwilliam. The Cederberg Mountains however, were gorgeous. 
After checking in a the guesthouse, I drove to Lambert’s Bay. The colony of Cape Gannets were as impressive as I remember them. It is estimated that there were about 18 000 birds. They are heading into their breeding season, and some of them were already sitting on their little ground nests.
Birds came and went all the time, and the cacophony of sound was something to behold.
These birds are so pretty. 
They were heading into breeding season, and some were showing the love.
Another one brought a small treat for his girl.
I saw some Cape Fur Seals and Greater Crested Terns on the rocks.
But it was all about the Gannets. 
As I drove out of Lambert’s Bay I saw this pretty Rock Kestrel.
There were lots of flowers between Clanwilliam and Lambert’s Bay, and the colour palette was mostly yellow and purple.
The next morning the moon had a strange halo. 
Before I left Clanwilliam I took a photo of the church.
The scenery outside Clanwilliam was incredible. When you leave the town and drive south, you drive along the (other) Olifants River. There was quite a bit of mist on the river, and it was picturesque.
Then you cross the mountain and descend into a valley with field after field after field of what I think is corn. My jaw literally dropped. Rolling green fields with mountains on the side created the most beautiful scenes.
Piketberg is the location of another church. 
Then I was off to Velddrif. I sat on a bench next to the water. I saw many Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Terns and other water birds, even a few Blue Cranes.
I drove to the Harbour. There were many Cormorants and Gulls. I spotted a large white bird in the distance – it wat the Great White Pelican I had hoped to see. Far, but still a happy sighting for me!
It had been a lovely few days in such a stunning part of our country. The flowers and birds exceeded every expectation I had coming in to the trip. But if I thoughtt he flowers up to now had been stunning, my next destination would raise the bar even higher.