It wasn't just about birds

Being 'not a birder', many of my photos are of the ground, sometimes including the tiniest plant or interesting feature of the landscape, and sometimes being the only way I actually saw some of the birds, having forgotten the binoculars at home! Here is a chance sighting that I was quite excited to see on editing the hundreds of photos:

White-fronted bee eater

A tiny plant (I think)

Bonsai

Inspecting one of many aardvark holes on the dam wall before driving around it.

 

Freshwater mussels embedded in the riverbank, about 5m above the river. One wonders when they last saw water.

 

Cape Clawless Otter midden

Lowering skies threatening snow. Didn't happen though!

Big sky country

Succulent next to a sheep's dropping

Euphorbia

 

Sutherlandia

 
The Karoo is endlessly fascinating, and even if birds are not your priority, the Karoo Birding Safari guides have a broad knowledge and know just where to find whatever you wish to see. I cannot recommend them highly enough.