Nestled in 3000 hectares of unspoilt savannah thornveld close to Kimberley, Marrick Safari can be found. Vast expanses of space and silence provide endless opportunities for returning to nature. Activities at Marrick Safari are specifically designed to enable guests to get as close as possible to this large, unique ecosystem, almost free from human interference. The property itself sustains a range of ecosystems, from African savannah land to rocky hillscapes to thicker thorny bushveld. There is even an ephemeral wet landscape. The amazing beauty about this area is that it becomes completely transformed after good summer rains.Marrick Safari has a number of guest lodges and amazing mountain bike trails so be sure when your are next in the Kimberley area to pay them a visit.
This is the dry Marrick Pan which covers in excess of 400 hectares and very seldom fills with water but when it does it transforms into a green paradise for a few months.
Even the reptiles like this Cape Cobra were struggling with the harsh drought , hence attracting them to venture into the Marrick farmyard looking for water.
Almost every evening there would be stunning sunsets with cumulonimbus clouds on the horizon but bringing no rain.
It happened mid afternoon on 1 January 2009. The skies got darker and darker and the rain started to fall.
Within minutes of the first drops of rain we realised that this was not just going to be a few drops of rain.
An hour later it was all over except for the flooding. In excess of 100 millimetres of rain fell in less than an hour and the parched earth could not absorb the water quickly enough.
The Marrick Pan rapidly started to fill with water, the first time in many years.
In places the water was been absorbed so quickly it was creating small whirl pools and a distinct rumbling noise.
This puff adder was one of the many creatures that managed to survive the flood waters, however the next day we found many that did not, like ground squirrels and even a young warthog.
It was not long before the Abdim’s storks, (Ciconia abdimii) also known as white-bellied storks arrived for easy pickings.
By the next morning various species of aquatic birds started to arrive. Marrick Game Farm attracts approximately 258 species of birds, becoming a birders paradise. This bird list has been compiled by Mark Anderson the CEO of BirdLife South Africa. If interested in this bird list you can email me on shawn@arkimages.com
Within 24 hours of the rain storm bull frogs appeared from their long hibernation in the dry earth, which can run into multiple years.
One of the many thousands of Juvenile bullfrogs that will eat anything that moves that they can get into their large mouths and in turn they are preyed on by many of the bird species.
Driving around the pan was not a good idea. Two Land Rover Defenders literally sunk to the chassis after driving on the wet saturated ground.
Once the ground had sufficiently dried tractor power had to be used to to extract the Land Rover Defenders.
Trevor the owner of Marrick Game Farm riding through the shallow water in the pan with his dogs.
Fortunately there were good followup rains that ensured the regrowth of the flora species on Marrick Game Farm
Trevor taking his Australian Cattle dogs for a run on a jeep track on the circumference of the pan where the lush green grass has changed colour on the approach of winter.
As the water dries up on the pan the mountain bike trails make excellent game viewing for mountain bikers. There are in excess of 75km of mountain bike trails on Marrick.
The elusive Aardvark in the dry grass on the Marrick pan. Sightings at Marrick are almost guaranteed.
Stunning pics!
This was the most heart warming photos! Catching, soul bearing, plaintive, jubilation, thanks giving, overwhelming series posted – you had me in tears. Loved the significance and honesty. My prayers and thoughts are with the people of Marrick, thank you’s for the rain they had and we are begging for more and more. We will carry you with our prayers, God will provide in His time. May God be with you!
Your comments were as warm, heart felt and powerful. Thank you.
Shawn you are the best. Not only are the pics outstanding, but you manage to tell a story in its entirety. Past, present and unforgiving but hopeful and faithful future. At the moment the drought is worse than ever experienced. We need your positive and creative presence. Toda Roba.
A picture paints a thousand words Magical moments in a special place
Wonderful images. Growing up in the Karoo it brought back a load of memories.
wow what a beautiful story .never even heard of this place until this blog.your pictures tell the story here.
love the snakes .your shots make me wish i was there
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Fantastic pics!