Wildcast

Summer heat and humidity are here!

And the elephants took time out to chill off early in the morning. Having cooled near Chikwelane they moved into the surrounding thickets and stood dust bathing in the shade for hours.

Later they moved into the hills and cooled off again at Chinzwini.

It was only after about 4pm that they got active feeding again. This heat sure was getting to them. AND to me too. At Chinzwini I was running up into the hills with some camera gear, then back to the car for more, making several trips in haste to be there before the elephants got there.
I was so keen to join them in the mud and even more desperate for a drink, but that had to wait another hour till they moved. It’s at times like these that you get to feel how those animals must feel when they’ve walked long distances just to get to water. And if there’s a predator or some disturbance they get deprived of that drink and have to search elsewhere.

Whereas I knew once I got back to the car I would have my water. Although by that stage it was like drinking warm tea.

I left the elephants in the late afternoon as the wild dogs had been seen up at Khayeni. They were passed out lying at the pan.
Only at sunset did they get on the move. I tried to stick with them but with the grass so long I battled to even keep sight of them and soon had to give up.
I really wonder how they hunt in these conditions as they must battle to even spot their prey.