Day six of Gordon Donovan's journey back to Namibia's Etosha National Park. I am not having much success at the Halali Camp. This was the best camp during dry season last October. Now it is wet season and it's a total miss as far as finding predators.

The second day at Halali was a total bust. I had left just as the gate opened and was hoping I finally see some lions. The Goas Waterhole was very quiet as well as Nuamses. I considered going back an hour and half in the other direction to Olifantsbad. I ended up on Eland Drive and saw a camera shy martial eagle, a few birds and chameleon on the road. I drove to Etosha Pan Outlook and took a few photographs. The pan looked like it had water in it at some places from Okondeko. It was bone dry.

I was determined to get a shot I wanted, so back to Nuamses I went. I was told a leopard and her two cubs frequented the hole. One of worst roads in Etosha, Nuamses will test your patience. I did see giraffes eating along the road. I parked there at 11:30 thinking I would stay until 1:30. Then I would give it another 15 minutes or when I ran out of water. Well I gave it 15 minutes, 24 times.

The temperatures soared to 43 Celsius (109 Fahrenheit) and I did run out of water but still stayed until 6:30. I sat and enjoyed the quiet, wonderful breeze and fed the bugs while sitting there, reading letters from friends. Finally impalas showed up around 4:00 PM and I hoped for a kill by the leopard. The impala where followed by kudu and no leopards.

Before leaving a herd of giraffe I saw eating on the earlier came to drink. With the sun at my back and pool in front I got some great reflective shots. I left when I could not go on anymore and drove back to Halali camp to see if lions would show up at Moringa Waterhole. I packed my gear and no animals at Moringa. A few nice sunsets images and that is all. Feeling ill at this point I realized I over did it and perhaps got heat stroke.

I was not hungry and polished off two liters of sparkling water. Despite having the air conditioner on my room, I was hot and had trouble breathing that night. Headaches and dizziness made it a tough night’s sleep.

Etosha Salt Pan Another beautiful sunset at the Morniga waterhole 130122_wm_etosha_halai_C41G8930
130122_wm_etosha_halai_C45H8884 A greater kestrel looks around for some action 130122_wm_etosha_halai_C41G8870
Several giraffes scurry away from the Nuamses waterhole Lilac-breasted Roller 130122_wm_etosha_halai_C45H8942
130122_wm_etosha_halai_C45H9110 A springbok keeps a careful eye A bee-eater keeps his distance from the camera
An impala adjusts his horns A baby giraffe gets down low to drink water A chameleon keeps a careful eye
The sun begins to set at the Moringa waterhole Several giraffes walk towards the Nuamses waterhole hornbill sits in a tree along the road on Eland Drive
Travels in Etosha on Jan. 22, 2013.

Waterholes and routes taken visited on day six in Etosha National Park.

Photos taken Jan. 22, 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: 478
Total photos taken: 3783

Published by Gordon Donovan in Africa, Etosha National Park, Travels