Mountains

This is the type of country we are now seeing as we travel towards Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Monteiro's Hornbill

Very exciting to see a Monteiro's Hornbill, Tockus monteiri, as we travel towards the Waterberg Plateau National Park in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. We ended up spotting many Hornbills, but this was the only time we saw a Monteiro's. Unfortunately photo taken looking towards the sun. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Monteiro's Hornbill

Monteiro's Hornbill, Tockus monteiri, enjoying a bug, as we drive towards Waterberg Plateau National Park in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Juvenile Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk

If you look closely, it has prey in its' claw. Juvenile Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk, Melierax canoras, as we travel towards to Waterberg Plateau, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Juvenile Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk

Juvenile Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk, Melierax canoras, as we travel towards to Waterberg Plateau, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Road to Waterberg

The tarred surface has come to an end on our way to Waterberg National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. The road is fine here, but it did get extremely muddy and bumpy further on. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Tsama Melon

Tsama melon, Citrullus lanatus growing beside the road to Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. This one rolled onto the road. The melons are eaten by animals in the absence of artificial water supplies. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Narrow-leaved Cotton Bush Fruit

We saw quite a few of these bushes and found they are called Narrow-leaved Cotton Bush and are actually weeds, trust me to be curious about a weed! They were beside the road to Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Is it a bean ??

No idea what this is .... something Ian took a fancy to ... beside the road to Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Bee

Unidentified bee on a flower beside the road to Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Namibian Tree

The trees are so different to those here in Australia. The branches seem to hang differently. These ones were beside the road to Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Rock Martin

I believe this is a Rock Martin, Hirundo fuligula , (Ian thinks it is a Common House-martin, still debating this) gathering for his nest at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Bird Bath

Stone bird bath at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. No idea what other purpose it served in the German era, or whether it was always a bird bath. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Blister Beetle

Blister Beetle at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Blister Beetles get their common name because they exude a substance called cantharidin that can cause blistering of skin. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Burchell's Starling

Burchell's Starling, Lamprotornis australis, at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Cape Glossy Starling

Cape Glossy Starling, Lamprotornis nitins, at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Waterberg Plateau

Rock guiding us on our path up to the Waterberg Plateau at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. It was a bit ambigious and we chosing the clearest path to the left. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Waterberg Plateau

View of the red sandstone Waterberg Plateau on our walk in the Waterberg National Park in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. I think we were being ambitious to think we could somehow get ourselves up there. The weather is quite hot. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Namibia.Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Trekking

We were determined to trek all the way to the top of the plateau, but we didn't take into account the heat, steepness and our age at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Dung Beetle

Dung Beetle, Allogymnopleurus chloris, at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. It is an assault of the senses to bend down close to capture a dung beetle. Next time, the lad with the long lens can photograph these. Amazing to watch them in action ! We saw them on our trek to the top of the plateau.

Dung Beetles

What do you call a group of Dung Beetles? Are they a tribe? Here they are happily playing with their dung at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Obnoxious aroma ! Notice the colourful fly with the red head on the far left beetle. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Dung Beetle

Really only put this photo in to show that these little guys go like the clappers, very fast ! Amazing to watch ! Rapidly moving Dung Beetle, Allogymnopleurus chloris, at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Waterberg Plateau Scenic View

This is as high as we managed to climb. The view was definitely worth it! Overlooking the plains at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Waterberg German War Cemetery

Sign at the Waterberg German War Cemetery at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Waterberg German War Cemetery

Waterberg War Cemetery where intricate head stones remember German soldiers killed in the Waterberg battle during the 1904 Herero uprising led by Chief Samuel Maharero. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are no equivalent memorials to the Herero. In the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. We can already see five baboons on the headstones ! Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Waterberg German War Cemetery

Waterberg Plateau overlooking Waterberg War Cemetery at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. The cemetery is overgrown and neglected. Waterberg Plateau is also home to one of the major turning points in Namibia's history. It was at Waterberg, in the foothills, that the Herero people lost their last and greatest battle against German colonial forces at the beginning of the 20th century. The Herero were forced to retreat from the Waterberg and headed eastward to British Bechuanaland (now Botswana). Thousands were killed by the pursuing Germans and many lost their lives in the Kalahari Desert due to lack of food and water. Estimates are that nearly two thirds of the Herero population lost their lives during this period. The graves of German soldiers who lost their lives at Waterberg are here in this cemetery. Unfortunately there is no cemetery for the Herero's who belonged to this land. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

German Grave

German grave in the cemetery at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

German Grave

German grave in the overgrown war cemetery at Waterberg Plateau National Park in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Chacma Baboon

Baboons hang around anywhere, even in cemeteries. Chacma Baboon, Papio ursinus, at Waterberg German War Cemetery, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Chacma Baboon with Infant

Chacma Baboon, Papio ursinus, and infant at Waterberg German War Cemetery, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Unidentified Butterfly

Butterfly in the mud puddle outside the Waterberg German War Cemetery at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Warthog

Warthogs, Phacochoerus africanus often bend on their front feet to eat. At Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Thirsty Piglet

Poor Mum! This young piglet will not leave the mother alone, constantly suckling at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Rosy-faced Lovebird

Rosy-faced Lovebird, Agapornis roseicollis, Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Ruppell's Parrot

Ruppell's Parrot, Poicephalus rueppellii, at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Ruppell's Parrot

Ruppell's Parrot, Poicephalus rueppellii, at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Waterberg Plateau

Waterberg Plateau at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. The plateau is largely inaccessible so in the early 1970's several of Namibia's endangered species were translocated here to protect them from predators and poaching to extinction. The programme was very successful and Waterberg now supplies other Namibian parks with rare species. In 1989, Black Rhino were reintroduced to the area from Damaraland, sparking a successful breeding programme of national and international significance for the species. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Comb Duck

Female Comb Duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos, with a vantage view at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. I think we were lucky to spot him as, according to the bird book he is an uncommon breeding migrant in this area. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Lesser Masked Weaver

They don't call them weavers for nothing .... Male Lesser Masked Weaver, Ploceus intermedius, prepares the nest at Waterberg Plateau National Park in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Acacia Pied Barbet

Acacia Pied Barbet, Tricholaema leucomelas, at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Lizard

Pregnant or fat lizard seen outside the restaurant at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Juvenile Fork-tailed Drongo

Juvenile Fork-tailed Drongo, Dicrurus adsimilis, perched on one of the lights at the restaurant at Waterberg National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Adult & Juvenile Fork-tailed Drongos

Adult & juvenile Fork-tailed Drongos, Dicrurus adsimilis, at Waterberg National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Grey Go-away-bird

Aptly named Grey Go-away-bird, Tockus monteiri, at Waterberg Plateau, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia Africa. Exciting to see them for the first time. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Grey Go-away-bird

Hungry Grey Go-away-bird, Tockus monteiri, at Waterberg Plateau, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Grey Go-away-bird

Hungry Grey Go-away-bird, Tockus monteiri, at Waterberg Plateau, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Bush Chalets

We chose a bush chalet like these at Waterberg Plateau National Park in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. The more upmarket chalets had room for a car space. They also have very nice camping accommodation. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Chacma Baboons

Chacma Baboons, Papio ursinus, casually crossing the road in front of us at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. Of course we must wait for them. This is the only National Park I've seen with paved roads. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Chacma Baboon

Our next door neighbour, the Chacma Baboon, Papio ursinus, relaxing on the patio at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa. They are amusing to watch.We were told not to leave our doors open as the baboons will wander inside and create havoc. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.

Chacma Baboon

Chacma Baboon Papio ursinus, strolls leisurely in front of our unit at Waterberg Plateau National Park, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, Africa.. Photographed March 2014 - © 2014 Ian Gavagan & Lesley Bray - All Rights Reserved.