Barokalalo camping and Kgomo-kgomo

Mon Dec 28, 2009 9:25 pm by Doug has 6 comments

I set of early on the 26th of December for two nights of camping with Connor as Karen sadly had to work.

Connor and I arrived to find the camping facilities the same as usual and we duly setup camp.

Connor and "Dad" at Barokaklalo's Moretele camp.

With a 4 year old to look after it was not a serious bird-fest but the birding was good none the less and we set off to drive the areas below Moretele camp along the river. Winding round up the side of the hill side, we took the link back through to Moretele and found the "usual" Double-banded Sandgrouse.

The difficult to locate Double-banded Soundgrouse at barokalalo.

After the drive was complete we followed the road along the water's edge to find a group of 4 young Black-backed Jackal.


Returning to camp we found that the local monkeys had made it into our tent despite it being closed. The monkeys are apparently becoming a problem and have at times been rather agressive. They are not as innocent as they look.

Vervet Monkey

Back at camp, I set Connor up with his colouring in book to help him sit quietly by the river as I watched for some Barokalalo specials.


Before long our/my patience was rewarded with sightings of both a young and adult African Finfoot.

Young African Finfoot


Adult African Finfoot

And a dragonfly.


That night the heavens opened and it rained sufficiently to find the water front drive closed and the dam overflowing.


The next day's birding was good and we heard Olive-tree Warbler at Sefudi dam and Red-billed Oxpecker on the way back to camp.


We packed up the next day and headed home via Kgomo-kgomo. On the way we got Lanner Falcon near Ga-Habedi as well as posing African Spoonbill at a water puddle along the road.


At the floodplain itself and near the village we got the following pics.

Male Chestnut-backed Sparrow-lark


Female Chestnut-backed Sparrow-lark


Steppe Buzzard