Trip Report

Vultures on the way to Mata Mata gate
1 Vultures on the way to Mata Mata gate
 Lots of vultures on the ridge
2 Lots of vultures on the ridge
 Rock monitor crossing the road outside Mata Mata gate
3 Rock monitor crossing the road outside Mata Mata gate
 Giraffe on the dune
4 Giraffe on the dune
The whole herd of giraffe coming out of the dunes
5 The whole herd of giraffe coming out of the dunes
 MG 1436
6
 Running giraffe
7 Running giraffe
 First leopard of the trip just walking down the riverbed
8 First leopard of the trip just walking down the riverbed
MG 1484
9
 MG 1489
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 MG 1521
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 MG 1529
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MG 1550
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 MG 1567
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 MG 1576
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 MG 1583
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MG 1619
17
 What giraffe do when a leopard walks by
18 What giraffe do when a leopard walks by
 Black chested snake eagle
19 Black chested snake eagle
 For the afternoon drive we were looking for lions but found another leopard
20 For the afternoon drive we were looking for lions but found another leopard
MG 1646
21
 MG 1673
22
 Never before saw a leopard just sleeping on the ground
23 Never before saw a leopard just sleeping on the ground
 And she awakes...
24 And she awakes...
She had a kill nearby
25 She had a kill nearby
 Eatting an African wild cat
26 Eatting an African wild cat
 She didn't like the fur
27 She didn't like the fur
 MG 1772
28
On the way back to Kieliekrankie Camp, a full moon raising
29 On the way back to Kieliekrankie Camp, a full moon raising
 A Brownie at the waterhole
30 A Brownie at the waterhole
 MG 1786
31
 Brown hyaena
32 Brown hyaena
MG 1824
33
 3 cheetahs in the red dunes
34 3 cheetahs in the red dunes
 Cheetahs on the hunt
35 Cheetahs on the hunt
 MG 1846
36
Looking for breakfast
37 Looking for breakfast
 They missed their meal
38 They missed their meal
 The camera guy doesn't even see what is in front of him.
39 The camera guy doesn't even see what is in front of him.
 Looking to see if brother got something
40 Looking to see if brother got something
MG 1900
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 MG 1915
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 MG 1929
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 MG 1962
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MG 1968
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 No breakfast so time for a nap
46 No breakfast so time for a nap
 MG 1977
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 MG 1980
48
whitebacked vulture
49 whitebacked vulture
 Ostrich juveniles
50 Ostrich juveniles
 Daddy ostrich and chicks
51 Daddy ostrich and chicks
 New day and another leopard
52 New day and another leopard
MG 2028
53
 Let me just rest my head
54 Let me just rest my head
 MG 2035
55
 Again, just sleeping on the ground
56 Again, just sleeping on the ground
African wild cat at Kieliekrankie Camp
57 African wild cat at Kieliekrankie Camp
 AWC looks just like a house cat
58 AWC looks just like a house cat
 Leaving camp at sunrise and the AWCs are catching rays on our roof
59 Leaving camp at sunrise and the AWCs are catching rays on our roof
 Cheetahs this morning at the waterhole
60 Cheetahs this morning at the waterhole
MG 2100
61
 Looking to hunt
62 Looking to hunt
 MG 2109
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 MG 2115
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MG 2126
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 MG 2133
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 MG 2137
67
 MG 2146
68
MG 2159
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 MG 2168
70
 Springbok in the riverbed near Kamqua picnic site
71 Springbok in the riverbed near Kamqua picnic site
 MG 2189
72
MG 2194
73
 The cheetah spot the springbok
74 The cheetah spot the springbok
 ...and the hunt is on
75 ...and the hunt is on
 MG 2198
76
MG 2200
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 MG 2201
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 MG 2202
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 MG 2203
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MG 2205
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 MG 2206
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 MG 2208
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 MG 2209
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MG 2213
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 MG 2214
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 MG 2215
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 MG 2216
88
Creating a lot of dust
89 Creating a lot of dust
 MG 2220
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 MG 2224
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 MG 2227
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MG 2228
93
 The springbok escaped through the picnic site
94 The springbok escaped through the picnic site
 The other cheetah just watched and waited
95 The other cheetah just watched and waited
 No breakfast this morning
96 No breakfast this morning
MG 2241
97
 Red hartebeest decide to move on down the valley
98 Red hartebeest decide to move on down the valley
 MG 2251
99
 MG 2255
100
MG 2260
101
 MG 2265
102
 On the way back to camp we spot another leopard hunting. We followed along with her for about an hour.
103 On the way back to camp we spot another leopard hunting. We followed along with her for about an hour.
 MG 2290
104
MG 2308
105
 MG 2329
106
 MG 2337
107
 She was checking every bush
108 She was checking every bush
After missing a cape fox she needed a rest in the road.
109 After missing a cape fox she needed a rest in the road.
 MG 2353
110
 MG 2355
111
 MG 2360
112
On the hunt again
113 On the hunt again
 MG 2377
114
 MG 2383
115
 MG 2394
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MG 2396
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 MG 2404
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 MG 2411
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 MG 2423
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MG 2424
121
 MG 2435
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 MG 2436
123
 Something is moving in a bush
124 Something is moving in a bush
MG 2439
125
 MG 2441
126
 MG 2448
127
 MG 2454
128
Let's cross the road again.
129 Let's cross the road again.
 MG 2464
130
 MG 2467
131
 MG 2473
132
MG 2477
133
 MG 2494
134
 Look who noticed the hunter.
135 Look who noticed the hunter.
 Lion watching the leopard
136 Lion watching the leopard
MG 2514
137
 MG 2518
138
 The hunter becomes the hunted.
139 The hunter becomes the hunted.
 MG 2520
140
We sure don't want to see a lion kill a leopard.
141 We sure don't want to see a lion kill a leopard.
 MG 2527
142
 Ready to pounce into the bush where the leopard went
143 Ready to pounce into the bush where the leopard went
 Now Big Boy is interested
144 Now Big Boy is interested
Too late...the leopard shot out of the bush and was over the hill and gone.
145 Too late...the leopard shot out of the bush and was over the hill and gone.
 Meercat or Suricate
146 Meercat or Suricate
 Meercat on patrol
147 Meercat on patrol
 Taking a break
148 Taking a break
MG 2590
149
 Authorities baited and darted 2 lions so they could attach monitoring devices. This guy got a little messy with his meal.
150 Authorities baited and darted 2 lions so they could attach monitoring devices. This guy got a little messy with his meal.
 MG 2654
151
 MG 2657
152
MG 2674
153
 Time to go get cleaned up
154 Time to go get cleaned up
 No time to finish the tic tac toe game.
155 No time to finish the tic tac toe game.
 The female had lost 1 eye a long time ago.
156 The female had lost 1 eye a long time ago.
He got something icky in that last bite.
157 He got something icky in that last bite.
 MG 2758
158
 MG 2768
159
 MG 2769
160
MG 2776
161
 Black-backed jackals waiting to feed.
162 Black-backed jackals waiting to feed.
 MG 2801
163
 MG 2807
164
A cheetah slipping away near the lions.
165 A cheetah slipping away near the lions.
 A tortoise near the road
166 A tortoise near the road
 Tawny eagle at the waterhole
167 Tawny eagle at the waterhole
 Lion prides in both valleys were darted and collared. The collars are supposed to fall off at the end of 2019.
168 Lion prides in both valleys were darted and collared. The collars are supposed to fall off at the end of 2019.
MG 2855
169
 MG 2865
170
 MG 2875
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 MG 2880
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MG 2909
173
 She was not happy with the new collar.
174 She was not happy with the new collar.
 We found more cheetahs. Over the trip of 12 nights we found 26 cheetah.
175 We found more cheetahs. Over the trip of 12 nights we found 26 cheetah.
 She was not happy that a tortoise was coming her way.
176 She was not happy that a tortoise was coming her way.
MG 2942
177
 She decide enough was enough and moved.
178 She decide enough was enough and moved.
 MG 2960
179
 Two headed beast
180 Two headed beast
MG 2973
181
 MG 2979
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 MG 2983
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 MG 2985
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MG 2986
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 MG 2989
186
 MG 2993
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 MG 2995
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MG 2997
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 MG 2998
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 MG 3003
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 MG 3008
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MG 3034
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 MG 3036
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 MG 3054
195
 Sunset over the Kgalagadi Transfrontier park
196 Sunset over the Kgalagadi Transfrontier park
3 cheetah brothers on the dunes
197 3 cheetah brothers on the dunes
 MG 3065
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 MG 3068
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 MG 3086
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MG 3092
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 MG 3094
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 MG 3096
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 MG 3097
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MG 3100
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 MG 3101
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 MG 3104
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 MG 3107
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MG 3112
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 MG 3117
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 MG 3132
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 MG 3144
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MG 3145
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 MG 3155
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 MG 3161
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 MG 3176
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Lanner falcon
217 Lanner falcon
 Defending his kill
218 Defending his kill
 We tracked lions to Union's End picnic site
219 We tracked lions to Union's End picnic site
 We found a pride at this same spot last year.
220 We found a pride at this same spot last year.
MG 3242
221
 MG 3263
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 MG 3269
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 MG 3288
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MG 3291
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 MG 3292
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 MG 3293
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 MG 3294
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MG 3298
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 MG 3325
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 MG 3344
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 MG 3365
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MG 3369
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 MG 3371
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 MG 3386
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 MG 3391
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MG 3393
237
 MG 3411
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 MG 3424
239
 We didn't use the facalities.
240 We didn't use the facalities.
MG 3430
241
 MG 3434
242
 MG 3468
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 MG 3479
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MG 3480
245
 MG 3481
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 MG 3482
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 MG 3485
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MG 3500
249
 Playing with her shadow.
250 Playing with her shadow.
 MG 3514
251
 Got it
252 Got it
MG 3523
253
 These are the bathrooms that we couldn't use
254 These are the bathrooms that we couldn't use
 Guarding the bathrooms
255 Guarding the bathrooms
 Bateleur eagle. There were about 200 1 morning catching terminites.
256 Bateleur eagle. There were about 200 1 morning catching terminites.
MG 3569
257
 Tawny eagle coming in for a landing
258 Tawny eagle coming in for a landing
 MG 3572
259
 MG 3574
260
Kori bustard
261 Kori bustard
 Cheetahs on the dunes at sunrise at Marie se draai
262 Cheetahs on the dunes at sunrise at Marie se draai
 MG 3608
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 MG 3617
264
MG 3622
265
 MG 3623
266
 MG 3626
267
 MG 3631
268
Blue wildebeest baby with mom watching
269 Blue wildebeest baby with mom watching
 MG 3669
270
 Trio of blue wildebeest babies
271 Trio of blue wildebeest babies
 Springbok finding a little shade
272 Springbok finding a little shade
Male kudu
273 Male kudu
 2 male kudus at the Urikaruus camp
274 2 male kudus at the Urikaruus camp
 Lancer falcon
275 Lancer falcon
 Crows looking for a hand out
276 Crows looking for a hand out
MG 9544
277
 MG 9554
278
 Ostrich
279 Ostrich
 MG 3681
280
MG 3694
281
 Southern yellow-billed hornbill
282 Southern yellow-billed hornbill
 All sizes of giraffe at Urikaruus
283 All sizes of giraffe at Urikaruus
 MG 3705
284
MG 3708
285
 Drinking giraffe
286 Drinking giraffe
 MG 3714
287
 MG 3716
288
MG 3719
289
 Brown hyaena at the waterhole
290 Brown hyaena at the waterhole
 Another leopard
291 Another leopard
 MG 3729
292
MG 3742
293
 MG 3772
294
 MG 3802
295
 MG 3824
296
MG 3835
297
 MG 3850
298
 MG 3858
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 MG 3878
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MG 3888
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 MG 3907
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 MG 3911
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 MG 3913
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MG 3924
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 MG 3933
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 MG 3938
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 MG 3943
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MG 3947
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 MG 3948
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 MG 3966
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 MG 3969
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MG 3985
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 MG 3992
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 MG 3998
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 MG 4002
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MG 4005
317
 Incoming cheetah
318 Incoming cheetah
 The leopard is very interested in the cheetah
319 The leopard is very interested in the cheetah
 MG 4019
320
Watching the cheetah at the waterhole
321 Watching the cheetah at the waterhole
 MG 4029
322
 MG 4032
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 MG 4045
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MG 4051
325
 MG 4056
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 MG 4058
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 What, another leopard and the cheetah is interested.
328 What, another leopard and the cheetah is interested.
The leopard does not want to be followed.
329 The leopard does not want to be followed.
 The cheetah knows when to run.
330 The cheetah knows when to run.
 MG 4083
331
 MG 4084
332
Leopard is supreme over the much larger cheetah.
333 Leopard is supreme over the much larger cheetah.
 MG 4092
334
 MG 4094
335
 MG 4096
336
MG 4098
337
 This leopard watched the whole interaction of the other cheetah and leopard.
338 This leopard watched the whole interaction of the other cheetah and leopard.
 MG 4108
339
 MG 4109
340
MG 4113
341
 Mom came back to the waterhole and this little one came out of the tree for a reuniou.
342 Mom came back to the waterhole and this little one came out of the tree for a reuniou.
 MG 4133
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 MG 4135
344
MG 4140
345
 MG 4145
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 MG 4146
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 MG 4147
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MG 4148
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 MG 4151
350
 Now they are on the move.
351 Now they are on the move.
 MG 4158
352
Still needing a little love.
353 Still needing a little love.
 MG 4172
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 MG 4175
355
 MG 4178
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MG 4179
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 MG 4182
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 MG 4183
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 MG 4184
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MG 4196
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 MG 4201
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 MG 4209
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 MG 4211
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MG 4212
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 MG 4240
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 MG 4252
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 MG 4264
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MG 4268
369
 Mom found her other cub. This is the one that was sitting by our truck watching the cheetah spar with mom.
370 Mom found her other cub. This is the one that was sitting by our truck watching the cheetah spar with mom.
 This one needs a little loving too.
371 This one needs a little loving too.
 MG 4280
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MG 4281
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 MG 4282
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 MG 4283
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 MG 4284
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MG 4286
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 MG 4291
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 MG 4295
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 MG 4297
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MG 4301
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 MG 4308
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 MG 4310
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 MG 4311
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MG 4312
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 MG 4318
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 MG 4323
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 MG 4325
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MG 4334
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 We later learned that this is Mira and her 2 cubs.
390 We later learned that this is Mira and her 2 cubs.
 MG 4358
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 MG 4366
392
MG 4370
393
 Normally we see 1, maybe 2 leopards during the whole trip. This year we had 9 leopard sightings!
394 Normally we see 1, maybe 2 leopards during the whole trip. This year we had 9 leopard sightings!
 MG 4381
395
 Meerkats at attention when 3 leopard are walking their way
396 Meerkats at attention when 3 leopard are walking their way
The leopards are coming
397 The leopards are coming
 MG 4403
398
 And over the hill they go.
399 And over the hill they go.
 Brownie
400 Brownie
MG 4429
401
 Meercat
402 Meercat
 MG 4459
403
 This is an extremely venomous Cape cobra crossing the road. It had it's hood on display when we stopped just inches from it. Too close for a photo then and a little too scary.
404 This is an extremely venomous Cape cobra crossing the road. It had it's hood on display when we stopped just inches from it. Too close for a photo then and a little too scary.
2 cheetahs near Kalahari Tented camp at sunset.
405 2 cheetahs near Kalahari Tented camp at sunset.
 MG 4486
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 MG 4490
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 MG 4496
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MG 4514
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 MG 4524
410
 Cheetah on a Springbok kill.
411 Cheetah on a Springbok kill.
 MG 4547
412
Our last cheetah sighting when leaving the Park for Upington Total of 26 cheetah, 21 lion, 9 leopard, 9 African wild cats, and 4 brown hyaena.
413 Our last cheetah sighting when leaving the Park for Upington Total of 26 cheetah, 21 lion, 9 leopard, 9 African wild cats, and 4 brown hyaena.
 Our lodge in Upington, the River Place Manor. Ours is the truck.
414 Our lodge in Upington, the River Place Manor. Ours is the truck.
 Map of the wine region at Orange River Cellars
415 Map of the wine region at Orange River Cellars
 We did a little wine tasting.
416 We did a little wine tasting.
The tasting room was very quiet on a Monday.
417 The tasting room was very quiet on a Monday.
 The vineyard at the River Place Manor in Upington
418 The vineyard at the River Place Manor in Upington
 View from our balcony
419 View from our balcony
 Black wildebeest
420 Black wildebeest
MG 4567
421
 Warthog
422 Warthog
 Red hartebeest
423 Red hartebeest
 Roan antelope
424 Roan antelope
MG 4587
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 MG 4593
426
 Black wildebeest
427 Black wildebeest
 MG 4623
428
MG 4628
429
 MG 4636
430
 P1030217
431
 Rain storm coming our way
432 Rain storm coming our way
Getting closer
433 Getting closer
 It rained very hard and sideways for 30 minutes. Our tent on stilts was really moving.
434 It rained very hard and sideways for 30 minutes. Our tent on stilts was really moving.
 After the storm
435 After the storm