Meerkats

Day 26, 22.01.23, from Twee Rivieren to Augrabies

A last game drive before continuing to the Augrabies Falls National Park. And what is still on the wish list after three very nice game drives? The leopard, because it is said that they are here somewhere. And since it is said that leopards see you, but you don't see them, we are especially attentive.

It turns out later that the leopards apparently wandered to Botswana and we probably won't see any this time. But since we saw a lot of turtles on the entire morning drive, we'll consider it: 10 Western Leopard Toads = 1 leopard. Check!

However, there is still some wildlife: First, a cheetah that missed its breakfast because it was too lazy to chase a springbok that was only about 50 meters away. And second, a lion couple lying under a tree still not ready to start the day. A nice ending.

Then we drive back to the camp and just as we are about to pick up our things from the chalet, we observe a yellow mongoose with its young coming out of a pipe and greeting the day.

The yellow mongoose is a small mammal that lives in the Kalahari and Namib Deserts. They are diurnal animals and live in underground burrows with ground squirrels or meerkats. Mongooses are small (about 50 cm long), have yellow or reddish fur, and a long tail with a distinctive white tip.

After the two disappeared back into the pipe, we drive to the nearby border. The border house is located half in Botswana and half in South Africa and is also the reception of the park. As we have already left Namibia, we have already checked out and after a few annoying questions from the border officer, we check back into South Africa on our way to the Augrabies Falls National Park.

Shortly after the border, we come across a sign that says "Meerkats Sanctuary" and immediately turn right to a small farm. Not only a young woman with a meerkat in her hand greets us, but a whole meerkat family. This is what we have been waiting for the whole trip, as they have been talked about so often, but we haven't seen any of them.

There are few animals on earth that work together as well as meerkats do. These squirrel-sized members of the mongoose family live in groups of up to 40 animals and each family member participates in collecting food, keeping an eye out for predators, and taking care of the babies.

Meerkats live in the deserts and grasslands of southern Africa. These extremely social animals live together in burrows that they dig with their long, sharp claws. They only go outside during the day. Every morning when the sun rises, the group emerges and starts searching for food. Several babysitters stay back in the burrow to take care of the newborn puppies.

While the rest of the group is looking for food, one or more meerkats, called sentinels, find an elevated vantage point, such as a termite mound, and sit on their hind legs to scan the sky and the desert for predators such as eagles, falcons, and jackals. When a sentinel senses danger, it emits a shrill cry and sends everyone else into hiding.

We learn a lot about these cute animals, who live in the sanctuary but can move freely and without boundaries. We are even allowed to hold one of them: Curiously, it starts exploring our body, sniffing and nibbling. Another nice ending to our days of animal exploration.

During our drive, we stop in Upington, one of the larger cities in the Northern Cape Province. Here we buy data volume for our phones and pizza for our stomachs. Since we haven't had a chance to book accommodation until now (first no network and then no data volume), we immediately start making up for it.

Because we can't make a booking online for the Falls Guesthouse anymore, we call them and they say that there is still a room available. Relieved, we drive the last 130 km and stop in front of the gate of the guesthouse. I call the number again, as there seems to be a code for entry. Somewhat confused, the man on the other end of the line tries to understand what I mean. It turns out that I have been on the phone with the Kakamas Hotel the whole time and not with the guesthouse. We somehow dialed the wrong number and both start laughing.

There is a phone number of the Falls Guesthouse on the sign in front of the gate. I call them and luckily they can still give us a free room. Relieved, we see the gate opening and joyfully check into our accommodation for the night.

Cindy goes for a run, I enjoy a glass of wine. A long day, a long drive, and we also decide to have a long and restful night.