Day one of Gordon Donovan's journey back to Namibia's Etosha National Park. After a long drive I have arrived at Etosha.
After a six-hour plus drive, I finally arrived at the Galton Gate at Etosha National Park. I filled out paperwork for my visit and headed to the ranger station to pay park fees. I ended up photographing one of staff members before entering park. The roads leading up to the main road some of the worse I encountered in Etosha. I stopped at several waterholes on the way and found them empty. No animals anywhere.
I finally saw several zebras on the edge of the road, which turned and ran as I slowed down. The truck I had was great except for squeaky rear brakes that got the animals attention. This part of Etosha of was beautiful filled with vegetation, woodlands and hills. I arrived at the Dolomite Camp at hour or so later. Much to my surprise I found that the rooms were on top of a hill.
So one came down to pick me up and drove me to reception and my room. The driver seemed to have his hand out at all times. The camp asked me to sign a waiver and requested I not go out by myself after dark or before sunrise. The camp was not fenced in like the three other camps in Etosha.
I was introduced to a game driver and told about the cost and times of the drives. I asked the driver about where has he seen lions? He responded, “I don’t know where the lions are?” I replied, “So I am going pay for a drive with someone who doesn’t where the lions are in Africa?”
That is why I love self-drives in Etosha. I journeyed out in early evening and saw some giraffes and more zebra’s. But they all were pretty jumpy about cars unlike the other camps in Etosha. I did see an ostrich, tortoise, impala and a kori bustard. This day was just a travel day and so I had to settle down for a sunset, which was okay.
That night there was thunderstorm near one of the other camps in east. Somewhere near the Okaunkejo and Halai camps. There were still puddles near Olifantsbad and Aus waterholes when I journeyed there several days later. Better days were on the way.
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Waterholes visited on day one in Etosha National Park.
Photos taken Jan. 17, 2013 using a Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR with a EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Standard Zoom Lens, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens, a Sigma Telephoto 500mm f/4.5 EX DG APO HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS with/without a 1.4x DG EX APO Teleconverter.
Photos taken today: 223
Total photos taken: 888