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Our first stop was Golden Gate National Park near Clerens in the Freestate.
This would be our home for the next few days. Now I don’t know about you, but I would choose this over going 5 star any day of the week!
There are some nice hiking trails in the area, one of which led up to this small cave.
Sandstone formations on the cave walls
My first snake species for the trip was an Egg Eater.
Dasypeltis scabra - Rhombic Egg Eater
The next find happened on only the 2nd day of our trip and turned out to be one of the best finds of my life!
After this I just felt like no matter what happened from here on out, this trip was already a success.
Lamprophis fuscus - Yellow Bellied House Snake
Our next stop was Graaf Reinette, a town in the Eastern Cape where we spent some time exploring the nearby Camdeboo National Park.
The town has one of the most impressive churches you will ever see.
There is a viewpoint from within the nearby Valley of Desolation of the entire town.
Valley of Desolation.
I was pleased to find my first ever cape cobra.
Naja nivea - Cape Cobra
Here are some of the other things I found in the area.
Lygodactylus capensis - Cape Dwarf Gecko
Pachydactylus maculates - Spotted Thick Toed Gecko
Chondrodactylus bibronii - Bibron's Gecko
Pachydactylus capensis - Cape Thick Toed Gecko
Trachylepis sulcata sulcata - Western Rock Skink
Pseudocordylus microlepidotus fasciatus - Karoo Crag Lizard
Agama atra - Southern Rock Agama
Stigmochelys pardalis - Leopard Tortiose
Vandijkophrynus gariepensis - Karoo Toad
Karoo:
We stopped over for two nights in Langebaan to spend some time in the magnificent West Coast National Park. Even though it was not flower season, the park is beautiful.
During our visit to the park the most common reptile (or animal for that matter) that we encountered was Angulate tortoises.
Chersina angulate - Angulate tortoise
Karusasaurus polyzonus - Karoo Girdled Lizard
Pachydactylus geitje - Ocellated Thick-toed Gecko
Psammophylax rhombeatus - Rhombic Skaapsteker
Leptotyphlops nigricans - Black Thread Snake
While on a hiking trail I decided to check out a derelict bird viewing hut. Upon nearing it I heard the tell-tale sound of a rat meeting it's fate & stormed inside to find a mole snake which had just caught it's prey! What a way to tick a lifer. I only managed a few poor quality shots before he disappeared out of sight to consume his meal in peace.
Pseudaspis cana - Mole Snake
We made our way down to Cape Town for a few days.
My girlfriend had mentioned back at the start of the trip that weather permitting, we should climb up Table Mountian. Unfortunately the sun decided to shine & so we did the hike. It wasn't easy, but the views made it well worth it.
Pseudocordylus microlepidotus - Cape Crag Lizard
Cordylus niger - Black Girdled Lizard
Bradypodion pumilum - Cape Dwarf Chameleon
These cute guys also call the mountain home.
Procavia capensis - Rock Hyrax
We also made a stop at Boulder Beach near Simons Town to see the African Penguins.
Spheniscus demersus - African Penguin
Afrogecko porphyreus - Marbled Leaf-toed Gecko.
A very special moment of the trip was finally getting to see these guys:
Ouroborus cataphractus - Armadillo Girdled Lizard
Pachydactylus mariquensis - Marico Thick-toed Gecko
Goggia lineata - Striped Dwarf Leaf-toed Gecko
Hyperolius m. verrucosus - Painted Reed Frog
During our trip I was lucky enough to tick a tortoise species off my life list I have always wanted to find. Not only that, but I found 2 in very different localities.
Homopus areolatus - Parrot Beaked Padloper
Western Cape near Oudshoorn:
Eastern Cape near Grahamstown:
Some other reptiles that turned up near Grahamstown:
Acontias orientalis - Eastern Leggless Skink
Lycophidion capense - Cape Wolf Snake
Cordylus cordylus - Cape Girdled Lizrad
And so out road trip came to an end.
Thanks for looking.
Dean
Thanks for sharing
