At least the elephants were good.
With all this rain we’ve been having, and which has just returned, the biting flies are pretty intense. But today whilst filming the elephant’s dust bathing, they were at their worst. This cloud of these tiny little critters, smaller than a pin head, were all over me. And let me tell you one thing, these little guys can bite! No major injury but when they’re all over you biting it gets pretty intense and it’s not a place you want to stay for long.
The elephants had the solution, covering themselves in dust/sand. I’m sure it would have worked for me too, but I’m just not quite ready or actually that desperate for a dust bath.
I wasn’t able to spend much time with them today as the rains arrived. By midday it was pelting down and it’s here to stay for about a week or more.
Back at camp it was vehicle maintenance. Another effect of the rain, the mud gets into my brakes. It has to be the worst thing for them. The muddy paste in the brakes is the perfect scouring agent and quickly wears them down.
You are definetely a lucky guy. It must be wonderful to be able to watch the elephants in loco.
What a bit of irony: Just before I saw this, I was watching the African Queen (you know, with Humphry Bogart) and this reminded me of the scene when they are barraged with biting flies.
I just like to say it how I see it. Take care.