It was a freezing start to the day, with frost on top of the van to prove it. A hot shower followed by breakfast stopped the cold getting to the core- but that said my feet didn't warm up until lunchtime! There were compensations however - the sky was blue and cloudless and as we set off bumping along the unmade road we saw steinbok, duiker and a small herd of kudu. Overhead we spotted today's photo a lovely pigmy falcon all fluffed up against the cold......and then from the front passenger seat John shouted -"there's an aardvark" and true enough there was an aardvark snuffling around outside its burrow and warming itself in the sun.....0845, the time of the sighting, was late for him still to be up! Sadly before I could take a photo it had darted down its burrow never to be seen again. But rest assured there is no doubt that had it been a hot day it would have been in the cool of its burrow but the cold had brought him to the sunny side so our freezing start was a blessing in disguise!
The rest of the trip to Upington and then to Augrabies was relatively uneventful, although we did see a rock kestrel, as we drove through the vineyards around the Orange river (South Africa's longest river.)
A brief stop in Upington allowed us to restock on snacks and buy a couple to doughnuts to have with lunch-which was at a roadside picnic spot. While we were getting everything ready one, skinny and unkempt African lad aged about 12, and on behalf of himself and his shier friend, asked if we had any food - Hein said if we had any left after we had eaten we would give it to them - needless to say when we packed up we gave them some bread, cheese, ham, cucumber, tomato and the remainder of our packet of wine gums - which they ravenously tucked into. They also asked for money - which would more than likely have gone on glue as the area is plagued with a sniffing problem - but we declined- food was a far better and more needed option.
We arrived at Augrabies mid afternoon and after unpacking went to look at the falls -they are the 6th highest in the world - a 67 meter fall into a 17km ravine.....it's name is from Khoi Khoi clan word 'Akoerabis' meaning 'place of big noise'. Currently the water level was at its lowest flow but it was nonetheless impressive and must be amazing in Jan/Feb when its at maximum flow.
A cup of tea and a relax beckoned before John and I returned to watch the sunset from the falls, including the rock hyraxes taking in the last of the days rays, while Hein started cooking the BBQ supper.