The Great White Place


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Africa » Namibia » Etosha National Park
August 11th 2009
Published: August 29th 2009
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Apparently they lick in preparation to eat...
Leaving the delta behind, we cross into Namibia, the penultimate country on our organised overland trip, and a place which promises some amazing experiences. Our first stop is Etosha National Park, a place renowned for some of the best game viewing in Africa. The omens are not good though... on our way to the park, we have a blow out a damaged gasket, forcing us to limp into a town a long way from Etosha to make repairs.

After an amazing effort by our driver, Pete, we get underway and make Etosha just a few hours late, but our game drive is short and we see little... a glimpse of a male lion as he walks away into the bush. Luckily, our campsite provides one of the park’s best game-viewing areas - a watering hole, just 5 minutes’ walk from our camping ground. We spend hours there in silence, and our luck with the animals reappears - we see a pair of rhino, hyenas and lions in quick succession.

The dominant feature of the park is the Etosha Pan (Etosha meaning 'the Great White Place'), a vast mineral pan covering more than 5,000sq km. It provides a typical African
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landscape... a vast open space as far as the eye can see in every direction. Of course, there’s only one thing to do on such an immense and serene place... take stupid photos, so we practice a bit of group jumping, mooning and selective nudity before hopping back on the truck.

We leave the Pan and head to our next campsite, a place we’re all looking forward to as it gives us another chance to get up close and personal with some big cats - this time cheetah. Cheetah Park is home to 3 domesticated cheetah, as well as 19 wild cheetah. We spend some time with the domesticated cheetah - 2 adults and an adorable cub, which spends most of the time fighting with a terrier. As I bend down to give one a scratch, it licks my leg with a tongue like sandpaper... apparently they do this to prepare meat for eating, so I decide to withdraw to a safer distance to watch them tucking into their dinner. The wild cheetah are a much more rewarding experience, even next to the truly wild ones we saw at Serengeti. We huddle on the back of a truck and
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Emerging from the bush
watch as wardens throw huge steaks to the gathered cheetah throng, who vie for the best position and best cuts of meat. They communicate with cat-like meows, as one by one they take their piece of meat off into the bush.


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What else are you going to do on a Pan but jump?


29th August 2009

Skinny
I think that the Cheetah probably thought that your leg was too skinny to bother with. Could you smuggle the little one back in your luggage, I'm sure Cleo would love a playmate? You all look nicely tanned and still enjoying yourselves. India progressing, submitting the Visa application this week. Keep safe Love Dadxx (Mum working)
30th August 2009

Magnificent
I recently went to Namibia and was blown away by the place,just stunning! Your pictures and blogs are amazing, you certainly have had and will some great memories! Safe travels out there mate!

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