ONGAVA LODGE
After three short flights, we landed here around one o'clock in time for lunch. The lodge is located in a private game reserve very close to Etosha National Park. The habitat has changed from the stark beauty of the coastal area, to a somewhat more lush one. The temperature is warmer and the area is still very dry and savanna-like rather than desert. Ongava Lodge is located on a hill so there are lots of stairs to climb between our vehicle and the main lodge and the main lodge and our room. The exercise will do us good. It seems that we spend a lot of time eating! We lucked out on our room location. We directly overlook the water hole. This area is famous for black rhino - a critically endangered and rare species.
After a quick lunch, we settled into our room before heading out on our first game drive. Our driver is named Teacher. I am so happy that we opted for a private car and driver at every location. We would have driven other people mad as we stopped for birds and we would have been incredibly frustrated to only stop for large game. It cost more, but it is worth every penny. Having a guide with us to spot and recognize the birds was absolutely necessary. We are having so much fun and have shared lots of laughs. I don't think Glen has guided anyone like us before. He'll have plenty of stories to tell his fellow guides about the two old ladies he took around Southern Africa.
We set out about 4:30 after spotting one of the areas most desirable birds, Ruppell's Parrots, in a tree near the main lodge. On that highlight, we left to discover a pair of mating lions. Apparently, when lions mate, they separate from the herd to enjoy four days of hanky-panky before going their separate ways. These two were clearly exhausted and only wanted to sleep. We were only about ten feet away from them. We drove around the savanna spotting zebra, waterbuck, black-faced Impala, giraffes, and springbok. We saw several species of bird, including the heaviest flying bird, the Kori Bustard, as well as the Red-crested Korhaan, another large bird.
We arrived back at the lodge after our first Sundowner here which we enjoyed on the open savanna - with even more food. We met Glen at the bar to do our lists when the call came, "Black Rhino" at the water hole. We spent some time oohing and aahing as we viewed him through the telescope and our binoculars. Norma has now seen two of the big five of the most dangerous animals to hunt in Africa. We were treated to a succession of three rhinos during dinner and I saw a fourth at the waterhole when I awoke at 4 am. The waterhole is lit at night and I can see it from my bed.
I should mention that we were incommunicado for three days in our last remote location with no internet. I must say that the Internet in Namibia, when we have it, is the fastest I have every experienced. Even faster than at home! I will update as often as I can. I keep on writing and then send them all at once when we are connected. We are so out of touch with what is going on in the world - haven't heard the T (rump) word since we started. Wonderful.
After three short flights, we landed here around one o'clock in time for lunch. The lodge is located in a private game reserve very close to Etosha National Park. The habitat has changed from the stark beauty of the coastal area, to a somewhat more lush one. The temperature is warmer and the area is still very dry and savanna-like rather than desert. Ongava Lodge is located on a hill so there are lots of stairs to climb between our vehicle and the main lodge and the main lodge and our room. The exercise will do us good. It seems that we spend a lot of time eating! We lucked out on our room location. We directly overlook the water hole. This area is famous for black rhino - a critically endangered and rare species.
After a quick lunch, we settled into our room before heading out on our first game drive. Our driver is named Teacher. I am so happy that we opted for a private car and driver at every location. We would have driven other people mad as we stopped for birds and we would have been incredibly frustrated to only stop for large game. It cost more, but it is worth every penny. Having a guide with us to spot and recognize the birds was absolutely necessary. We are having so much fun and have shared lots of laughs. I don't think Glen has guided anyone like us before. He'll have plenty of stories to tell his fellow guides about the two old ladies he took around Southern Africa.
We set out about 4:30 after spotting one of the areas most desirable birds, Ruppell's Parrots, in a tree near the main lodge. On that highlight, we left to discover a pair of mating lions. Apparently, when lions mate, they separate from the herd to enjoy four days of hanky-panky before going their separate ways. These two were clearly exhausted and only wanted to sleep. We were only about ten feet away from them. We drove around the savanna spotting zebra, waterbuck, black-faced Impala, giraffes, and springbok. We saw several species of bird, including the heaviest flying bird, the Kori Bustard, as well as the Red-crested Korhaan, another large bird.
We arrived back at the lodge after our first Sundowner here which we enjoyed on the open savanna - with even more food. We met Glen at the bar to do our lists when the call came, "Black Rhino" at the water hole. We spent some time oohing and aahing as we viewed him through the telescope and our binoculars. Norma has now seen two of the big five of the most dangerous animals to hunt in Africa. We were treated to a succession of three rhinos during dinner and I saw a fourth at the waterhole when I awoke at 4 am. The waterhole is lit at night and I can see it from my bed.
I should mention that we were incommunicado for three days in our last remote location with no internet. I must say that the Internet in Namibia, when we have it, is the fastest I have every experienced. Even faster than at home! I will update as often as I can. I keep on writing and then send them all at once when we are connected. We are so out of touch with what is going on in the world - haven't heard the T (rump) word since we started. Wonderful.
Comments
Post a Comment