Elephant bulls dust: Video

With the main breeding herds still in that dense bush to the north east, I went in search of some big elephant bulls. I wanted to show these guys in action! Destroying woodland at an alarming rate.

I found about a dozen bulls on the Chiredzi River in the tall mopanie woodland and they were doing just that, but not pushing over the big trees that I wanted to see. Well I suppose thankfully they didn’t push over any big trees today. They’re spared for another day.

In the midday heat they rested in the shade casually dusting themselves in their ‘sleep’.
Then moving on to the river banks they browsed heavily on a tree called “Elephant’s Purgitive”. Luckily I didn’t get to see or smell the results of their dose of these trees.

They moved into the river to drink and then wallow before heading west across the river into a no go area for me.

Winding my way back north east I found a breeding herd of about 20 elephants north of Chekwa pan. In the herd was this tiny little calf. Quite the bold little dude he was. And his mother was so relaxed with me in the area. I just love it when they’re not phased with my presence and just do what they go to do.

This whole herd was super chilled and a bull came over to check me out and have his trunk touched, before casually moving on to feed on a shrub that was partly under the car!
Wow! Wow! Wow!
It’s hard to explain the feeling of being so close/touching such an enormous wild beast and to have them trust you so. Incredible!