So I rolled out to Kimberley to judge and organize a pretty big skateboard contest we had out there. $100K first prize (about what, $720,000 Rand?), so it was a good days pay for Ishod Wair from Philly who won. I arrived on Wed, Sept 28th and went out hiking pretty much right away at a place called Marrick Safari. The owner, Trevor, was super cool and let me hike his property every morning I was there from about 6-9am. Following the advice of some of you trying to find stuff out and about. Unfortunately, while I was there it got COLD. First night was a very cool rain, then I think it dropped to about 5 C each night or lower. I tried road cruising as well but yeilded nothing (other than a very angry Samoan who I accidentally cut of driving and tried to beat my ass, the day they lost to the Bokkies, a little evasive driving got me out of there).
I did manage to find a recently deceased Tent Tortoise
At the Big Hole, I found this Skink, I'll need some ID HELP on these Skinks I post as they're a bit tricky.
Here's a view from the top of the Mini Mega ramp roll in, about 10 meters high, roll in, hit the first jump then hit the 6 meter quarterpipe on the other side, easy right?
After the contest my wife and I were off to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. We took the long way on the R31 there in hopes of seeing some snakes and other critters out and about. We didn't see much until all of a sudden one stretch of the road was teeming with DOR's and a live Cape Cobra. But, the live one was quick to get off the dirt and into the tall grass and down a hole. Sorry for the DOR's if the bum anyone out.
This one was a bummer as it was pretty fresh. I would have loved to see one of these big Rock Monitors alive.
Since you guys are all herps on here I'll spare you any vacation pics or bird/mammal photos and go straight to all the mostly lizard photos I have from the park. I saw one other Naja Nivea in the park but since you can't leave your car I missed the shot when I had to back up and he was gone.
We stayed at a place called Kalahari Trails, just 30km south of the park entrance and it was awesome. I wanted to have the freedom to walk around and hike to try to find stuff. TONS of Bibron's Thick-toed Gecko's were in our place munching bugs in the lights.
Was glad to find a live tort in the park with this Leopard Tortoise, but I did hate not being able to get on the ground to shoot a decent shot of it.
Ground Agama or Rock Agama?
Had these Skink's outside of our place, help with the ID on these?
And also saw one of these guys at a waterhole, also need the ID.
Pretty sure this one is a Ground Agama
Not sure of this one at all, can't find anything like it in the book. These are probably so basic for you guys I know it's funny, ha.
I did see this DOR snake on the road in the park and needed an ID, I was thinking Dwarf Beaked Snake? I was pretty pissed because it was still moving, meaning the car in front probably hit it. You could see it's trail across the road then it just stops, people need to pay attention more there.
After being in the Kgalagadi for 4 days, we stopped by the Augrabies on our way to Upington before flying home from Kimberley. A few things from the Falls and park...
A couple Augrabies Flats Lizards
Another unidentified Skink...
And some really pretty Southern Rock Agamas
All in all we had an awesome trip. We've got the contest there in Kimberley for 2 more years, so I've got a couple more chances to find some snakes, although I will definitely need a guide for road cruising as some of the roads just seemed too damn busy to cruise.