Epic – Part 2

Posted byevelynnfunstonPosted inUncategorized

Although leopards were our focus, elephants always put on a show. This is another reason our first drive was epic.

Enjoy our elephant pictures and our videos on Facebook (Theresa and Karen, we know these will be your favourites).

As you will see from the videos, this little one put on quite the show
1-Tusk was a huge elephant who decided to come very close to the vehicle and then follow us as we moved away.
At times the elephant was so close, all Larry could get with his telephoto lens was the eye. This is 1-Tusk’s eye. Gabriel would always speak calmly and softly to the elephants as they approached. If they came too close he would raise his voice and they would move off or move around us. Gabriel’s voice changed from soft to harsh as 1-Tusk kept coming closer. You will hear Gabriel start the vehicle and say hold on when 1-Tusk decided to push the limits – he followed for awhile but 1-Tusk did not charge us.
The elephant would dig a “well” (hole) in the riverbed sand using its trunk , and then sucked up the water. Once done other elephants would drink from the same well.
The Sand River was dry but the elephants knew how to get to the water. – the 1st elephant finished drinking and now it is the 2nd elephants turn. The 3rd elephant is waiting his turn. There were many holes in the riverbed.
This was taken from our lodge deck. The young one is once again putting on a show.
He’s had enough – time to move on

One night on the way back, 3 or 4 elephants came out of the brush onto the road. All we could see was something very, very large moving. The rangers drive with no lights at night so as not to hurt the eyes of the animals. Normally Cliff, our tracker, would use a spotlight to scan the sides of the road. With elephants the spotlight is not used as it disturbs them so we went off road to get by them (we are in the bush and the elephants are on the road). Amazing how Gabriel handled the vehicle in the dark and how important the communication between tracker (who is perched on a small chair attached to the front bumper) and the ranger is, especially at night.

2 thoughts on “Epic – Part 2”

  1. Love the photos of the elephants, in particular the one of the young one putting on the show!! They certainly are big – I would be keeping my distance!! So nice to see the elephants in their natural setting. Thanks for sharing. – Mary

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