Namibia
Etosha Waterholes
Natco
|
As mentioned on the Etosha Waterholes main page, Adamax and Natco are located close to each other, on a loop road to the west of the main Etosha Pan. Adamax lies on the southern edge of the middle one of three smaller salt pans, the Okahakana, the others being the Natukanaoka Pan to the north and the Charl Marais Pan to the southwest.
Both of these waterholes` names are a reference to people and an organisation that contributed towards their construction. The name ‘Adamax’ is a combination of the names Ada and Max Kessler, the patrons who partially financed the first borehole, while ‘NATCO’ (an abbreviation of the National Trading Company of SWA) paid for the other. |
|
Both water sources were closed in 1974 to avoid excessive overgrazing on the surrounding grassveldt, although there is a large natural depression to the south of the road close to Adamax which holds water after the rains and consequently attracts plains game and associated predators.
|
I checked out these waterholes during my very first full day in Etosha while staying at Okaukuejo Rest Camp. An anti-clockwise circuit starting with Wolfsnes and Okondeka proved fruitless, as did Adamax with only some distant antelope and Ostrich to be seen, however, on the way back, almost midway between Adamax and Natco, we discovered this Wildebeest carcass close to the roadside. The animal had apparently fallen victim to lions during the night and I assumed that they had had their fill as they were nowhere to be found.
|
White-backed Vultures waiting for an opportunity to rush in watched as a pack of Jackals stripped the remaining flesh from the dead animal`s head and rib cage. Despite the gory scene, it was fascinating to watch nature's `clean-up crew` at work and by the time another vehicle appeared about 20 minutes later, most of the scavengers had had their fill.
|
|
There were occasional seemingly vicious squabbles between the larger jackals but after a few moments they retook their original positions at the carcass and resumed feeding, apparently none the worse for wear. During one melee, no less than three Jackals took advantage of the diversion and climbed into the rib cage to snatch a few tasty morsels.
More information on Namibia and additional images taken there can be found on Clydeside Images.com. Utilise the blog`s search box or the `Overseas-Namibia` fly-out label on the right-hand side of the blog page. Please bear in mind that my Stock Photography Archive has even more shots taken in Namibia.
If you wish to purchase any image(s) please email using the Contact Form and I will respond at the earliest opportunity.
If you wish to purchase any image(s) please email using the Contact Form and I will respond at the earliest opportunity.
I suspect that the tail isn`t the tastiest part of the Wildebeest and can`t help imagining that this young Jackal is quite chuffed with his trophy, still wondering why none of his competitors tried to wrestle it from him!
Please bear in mind that all my images are subject to copyright. They are not free to use and have been embedded with a digital watermark.
