Springbok
- Kamieskroon: Aardvark Kloof
Aardvark
Kloof is one of western South Africas great endemic
bird sites. Here, sandy spits from the open Bushmanland plains
to the east meet the rocky Namaqualand interior, creating
a mosaic of gentle, sandy-bottomed valleys flanked by boulder-covered
slopes. At Aardvark Kloof, this diversity of habitats supports
a bird community that will leave any desert-bird enthusiast
twitching with indecision about where to look first. Here,
the sharp calls of confiding Cinnamon-breasted
Warblers (p.85*) echo through the roadside boulders,
while Red
Larks (p.96*) display a mere 50 m away!
Aardvark
Kloof lies near Gamoep (see map, p.97), southeast of Springbok,
and can be reached via the R355 (note that Springbok is your
last source of petrol and water). Follow the R355 straight
past the final Airport/Goegap Nature Reserve turnoff, at the
point where the tarred road turns to gravel. The unsurfaced
roads in this region can be rather poor in places and should
be negotiated with caution. Continue for 67 km beyond Springbok,
to Gamoep, a small cluster of houses. Ignore the turn-off
here (signposted Pofadder, Aggenys
and others) and continue for a further 2.6 km before turning
right towards Kamieskroon. Follow this road for 2.1 km and
bird the area just beyond the livestock grid in the road.
Red
Larks is found in the small
bushes on the right-hand side of the road. Such open areas
(especially back towards Gamoep) support plains birds such
as Thick-billed and Karoo Long-billed Larks,
and Karoo
Eremomela (p.85*). The rocky jumbles on the left-hand
side of the road are home to Cinnamon-breasted
Warbler and other endemics, including good numbers
of Southern Grey Tit, Mountain Chat, Layards
Titbabbler, Fairy Flycatcher, Pale-winged Starling,
Dusky Sunbird and White-throated and Black-headed
Canaries (p.105*). Small groups of Ground
Woodpecker (p.105*) may be found on rocky slopes throughout
the area. Scan the skies for Black and Booted Eagles
and Jackal Buzzard. Glossy Starling is common
here; Pririt
Batis (p.85*) and Acacia Pied Barbet inhabit
the acacia-lined watercourse on the right-hand side of the
road.
Aardvark
Kloof is also the start of an excellent scenic drive that
winds its way back to the N7 at Kamieskroon, taking in spectacular
landscapes that hold all the rock-loving hillside birds mentioned
above (see map, p.97, although note that the road is unsurfaced
and slow-going in places). You may wish to extend the scenic
drive by turning towards Leliesfontein to head south through
the Kamies Mountains and Studers Pass before eventually
arriving at Garies on the N7. Interestingly, these mountains,
an elevated island of higher rainfall deep in the Namaqualand
semidesert, support relict patches of fynbos (see p.5). Most
of the land along the way is communally owned by the local
pastoral people.
Although
the mountains of central Namaqualand are a stronghold of Cape
Eagle Owl (p.105*), we do not recommend extensive
night driving along the unsurfaced mountain roads. However,
you may wish to take a short nocturnal excursion along the
gravel route that leads from Kamieskroon towards Leliesfontein
(follow the signs from Kamieskroon). Scan for the owl on the
telephone poles along the first 10 km of this road. Also listen
out for Freckled Nightjar, which frequents rocky areas
in this region.
The
tar road between Springbok and Kamieskroon is by far the quickest
way to travel through Namaqualand, and offers great scenery.
Should you be in the position to drive this road at night,
do check the roadside telephone poles and conspicuous boulders
for Cape Eagle
Owl, which occur in the rocky areas along the entire
length of the road. Karoo Lark and Karoo Chat
may be found in the flatter areas between the hills.
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