It was real cooker today.
You wonder why I look so old when I’m only 21? Well blame the elephants for keeping me in the sun all day while they were swimming.
And they didn’t only swim once but 3 times, lucky buggers!
The big herd of elephant were up at the top end of Malilangwe dam early this morning already.
I found this group standing in this wallow and took the first photo from on top of the river bank. Note the log in the foreground.
I saw more potential in that log and so eased closer, first by vehicle. Seeing the elephant were happy with me being fairly close I then crawled up to the log and got this image.
It was then I realised the sky was too bright and somehow I needed to eliminate it as much as possible. So the next move was to get under the log.
I snapped off a myriad of images and ended up sitting in the shade of these logs for over an hour with the elephants peacefully standing around tossing mud every now and then. And even though they saw me crouched under the log they showed no concern. I young bull came up close, only about 2m away and then continued to bathe himself in mud.
Being out the heat and having all these huge animals surrounding me was another of those awesome experiences to log for life.
Later following the herds down to swim, this tiny calf (only weeks old) was battling to keep up with mom. His sole ambition in life at the moment being to stay as close to mom as possible at all times. Sometimes being so eager he’d trip up on mom’s back legs when he got too close.
As always the elephant get to cool themselves and leave me stewing. Luckily relief came in the early afternoon as our first thunderstorm of the season built up to the north. But it was more noise than anything. It did rain but was more an excuse of the term although while making a dash for it back to camp I did get somewhat soaked. And then it was all over.
Ahhhhh, I can imagine their bliss. Poor you, not getting in to join them. Hummmm. Wonder what they would do if you did but kind of at a distance from them.
Hi Kim,
These elephants seem to trust you, that is wonderful. Have any of the little ones ever come really close and allow you to touch them? I don’t remember you saying it.
Thanks again for starting my morning with beauty !
I love this video! I can’t say enough good things about it.
My favourite part is when the calf just plops down.
Wow, Kim, you’ve arrived. Those adults wouldn’t lie down if they didn’t trust you.
Maybe some day you can join them splashing and carrying on. That would be so funny.
What a HOOT!! Looks like sooo much fun - you can almost hear those little ones “giggling” Doesn’t look like they have a care in the world…how sweet! What a wonderful sight to see - thanks abunch - was a real treat!!
Your video has been sent to me from Canada. It’s great and Iloved it. How about you go to Thailand, up North near Chiang Mai and visit Elephant Nature Park. Not only will you get great video footage but you will get to feed and bath them too. That’s an awesome experience.
Look on our web site: http://www.elephantnaturefoundation.org
It’s the adults that come close and have touched a few of them.
Phyl: Maybe one day I’ll be able bathe with these guys. That would be truly awesome.