Scenes From Etosha Pans - One

It hasn't been all work and no play the last eight months - I've managed a few trips to the Etosha National Park, an hour's drive from my home:


Klein Namutoni Waterhole at Sunrise - there's nothing I like more than sitting quietly at a waterhole watching the comings and goings.


Giraffe at Twee Palms Waterhole. 
The trees are Ilala Palms (Hyphaene petersiana) and they occur in a broad swathe across northern Namibia. Known locally as the 'Makalani Palm' the fruit, a hard nut, is called 'Vegetable Ivory' because of the hard inner kernel which is used for carving trinkets and curios. 

The outer part of the fruit has a thin layer of ginger-flavoured pulp, much loved by Elephants and Baboons.


My first sighting of a Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis).

Honey Badgers are generally solitary, nocturnal creatures and have a reputation for being mean, aggressive fighters, even taking-on animals as large as Buffalo, going for the groin and genital organs, causing it's enemy to bleed to death.

Curiously, according to my Reference, "These animals are easily trainable and make interesting pets ..." - mmm, a Guard Badger?


Honey Badgers are omnivorous, feeding on rodents, snakes, insects and spiders. It's favourite food though, is Honey.

The Honey Badger's association with a bird called the Honey Guide (Indicator indicator) is well known - the bird locates a bees' nest then goes to 'call' a Honey Badger. The Badger breaks open the nest, protected from stings by its tough hide and underlying layer of fat, then shares the feast with the bird.


A Termite mound which has been raided by an Aardvark - the hole probably serves as a temporary home for some-or-other creature, like the Honey Badger, or Hyaena.


I was thrilled to spot this Caracal (Felis caracal) running across the road and into the bush where it stopped briefly to give me a photo-op - my first Caracal sighting in Etosha.

Caracal are the number one 'problem' animal in Namibia - they are responsible for considerable stock losses and are powerful enough to kill full-grown goats and sheep.


Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias caudata) - a common bird in Etosha.


I managed to get close to three male Spotted Hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) walking resolutely alongside the road. 

They are strange creatures in appearance and behaviour; feared and associated with Witchcraft and Evil in African lore. However, "researchers regard the Hyaena as an animal of superbly adapted build, with a functional beauty of its own."


One of the Hyaena stopped to examine the car and I felt distinctly uneasy as it regarded me with unfathomable liquid eyes - the same eyes I've seen on kids who sniff glue ... almost like a death glaze ...


Etosha Agama (Agama etoshae) - Endemic to the Etosha Pans and surrounding area.


A visitor records the scene at a Waterhole, framed in his rear view mirror - I couldn't resist this shot.


I bought this Owl from a vendor at the Namutoni gate - it now hangs against a newly-painted Orange wall ... :)

... to be continued ...

References:
Amy Schoeman - Notes on Nature.