MOST VERDANT KGALAGADI

 In the second half of January, from our very first outing we drove through many clouds of dancing butterflies and this joyous sight soon represented the essence of this trip.

The good rains of late had transformed the desert landscape of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park of the Northern Cape into verdant expanses where its camel thorn trees were laden with fresh seed pods and the classic views of the Kalahari red dunes are at the moment, covered with a great variety of beautiful grass to their very tops.

We were told that it was 40 years since the last time the park had been so green.

Everyone made use of the long puddles of water in the roads, from birds bathing and drinking to springbok and jackals nervously lapping a few mouthfuls of water between the passing cars. Butterflies congregating by the hundreds to suck moisture from the muddy edges were lifting gracefully, like fairy dust on this most unusual sight.
With such abundance all around, all forms of life were thriving, youngster's everywhere and gemsbok belly deep in the tall grasses under blue skies where magnificent white clouds built up all day. We enjoyed many great sightings of animals and birds and could often observe their behavior at leisure in the sweltering mid-summer heat.
It was a memorable experience toasted with a glass of champagne at Kieliekrankie, our favorite secluded accommodation on a dune ridge with a grandiose view.

We feel privileged to have seen this.