After their re-introduction into the Karoo National Park a year ago, the lions are doing well, according to senior section ranger Johan de Klerk, who gave me some of his photos for my blog, as we haven’t seen them yet. (Although we have seen remains of two zebra – one on the spectacular Pienaar’s Pass, a tough 4×4 route which I can highly recommend.)
If the natural vegetation is conserved, the Karoo can support a healthy population of wild antelope and ungulates. (The Karoo actually has very fertile soil –250 million years ago this area was an ancient floodplain, so the soil is full of nutritious prehistoric sediment and minerals – but because the soil is so thin, and the area is so arid and rocky, it can’t be ploughed or farmed.) The park has more than 1 000 gemsbok, and plenty of hartebeest, kudu, eland and zebra. So the lions have lots to eat in the 88 000 hectare park.
And far from being an endless monotonous landscape, the Karoo NP has some of the most beautiful kloofs and koppies in the region. The aforementioned Pienaar’s Pass starts near the main rest camp, and bumps its way up a forested kloof where we saw kudu and klipspringer on the opposite inclines. At the top of the pass, a superb panoramic view of the koppies makes for a great sunset drink.
The pass was tough, but my Ford Everest handled it really well. A few times the vehicle lost a bit of traction on the loose shale, but on the second attempt, I chose a slightly different angle, and the Ford simply crawled inexorably up in low-range first gear. Highly impressive, and I have new respect for this vehicle. It cruises easily at 140km/h on the highway, consuming 10 litres of fuel per 100km, but it can also get up the Pienaar’s Pass with relative ease. It makes a nice change from my old Land Rover Defender which is only good for the rough stuff. The Ford is a great combination of rough and smooth!
We got to the top, and took a few photos before heading back at sunset. We wanted to check out the bird hide which is situated a few hundred metres from camp. It’s a fantastic little hide, with lots of birds, including the bright weavers and acrobatic martins. Also highly recommended.
The two big males of the Karoo NP - they came from Addo Elephant National Park...and are closely linked to the gene pool of the Cape lion which is also found in the Kgalagadi.
Check out...those furry elbows! And the black mane...a clear indicator of their genetic link to the Cape lion.
The lions have right of way...are we really going to argue?!?
Karoo moon.
Gemsbok on ridge...
Ah, can someone help me here? Not sure what species this is.
And this guy?
Group of gemsbok...there are more than 1000 in the park
And this little bird is?
Weaver bird at the bird hide...I've been watching him build his nest for the past few days, while the females sit around being lazy.
Weaver bird, not sure which species - will find out! - check out that colour!
Amazing...
There's plenty of grass at this time of year in the Karoo NP, because it's not overgrazed like the rest of the unconserved farmland
Klipspringer
Stars and hills of the Karoo NP...but check out the glow from Beaufort West in the bottom right corner...
Beautiful colours on this locust - not sure which species!
On our way back from the remote Embizweni Cottage in the northwest of the park
So often while I'm taking macro photos, I start noticing the tiny insects, appearing as if out of nowhere
This leopard tortoise hangs out in the campsite at Karoo NP
Swim time! The rest camp at Karoo NP has a huge cool swimming pool...about the most important thing!
Thandi at the top of Pienaar's Pass, a tough 4x4 route that is highly recommended!
Flying to the sun - Thandi goes airborne again.
Reminds me of someone I know...
We saw this impressive male kudu on the opposite incline on the Pienaar's Pass
And another male kudu on our side of the pass
Klipspringer on Pienaar's Pass
The top of Pienaar's Pass has amazing views of the koppies. Thandi gives some perspective.
The koppies of the Karoo NP
Grass and gold
We made it! Top of Pienaar's Pass - Thandi gives the smile, I take the photo...just for a change 
On our way up Pienaar's Pass
Checking for big rocks!
Thanks again to my sponsors for making it all possible. CapeNature, South African National Parks, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Eastern Cape Parks, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Ford, Total, Evosat, Conqueror Trailers, Vodacom, Digicape, Lacie, Frontrunner, K-Way, EeziAwn, National Luna, Nokia , Goodyear, Global Fleet Sales, Hetzner and Clearstream Consulting.
November 5, 2011 at 10:04 am
Do you put a link to each of your posts at the SANParks forums? There you will find lots of interested readers with time and knowledge to ID with you.
Since the sponsorship is about marketing SANParks, you do need to tell potential tourists, what year, what month your posts are written. Say they want to see bontebok calves …
Blue headed lizard is a male rock agama.
Yellow is a masked weaver.
And the red bishop.