Elephants Having Fun

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Geo: -24.7768, 26.3452

This afternoon I went for a drive with Paul to pick up staff from the furthest gate. As we drove into the wetlands we stopped to take in the view. There were elephants everywhere- swimming, eating and drinking. We watched them coat themselves in mud and then have trouble getting out of the mud. Others were swimming and playing in the waterhole. I find elephants quite entertaining to watch as they are always doing something.

We continued on and about half an hour later we came across a Black Backed Jackal sitting in an open area. About fifteen minutes later we came across a large bull elephant, who seemed to be hiding behind a tree. It didn't take him long to become comfortable with us and then he came out from behind the tree. This elephant had a distinctive marking on its right ear - a little round hole. There was not much else seen on the rest of the drive.

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Photos

01 Muddy
An elephant coming out of the water and now all covered in mud.

02 Muddy
The elephants have been having lots of fun in the mud and are now trying to get out.

03 Stuck
The smaller elephants seem to be stuck in the mud.

04 Help!
This elephant is calling out for help to get out of the mud.

05 In the Wetlands
These two elephants are walking around the wetlands eating and drinking.

06 Helping Hand
The adult elephant helping the younger one get out of the mud.

07 Trunk Up
The female adult has her trunk up as she smells us.

08 Little Ones
Two little elephants all covered in mud.

09 Wet
This elephant has wet its legs and trunk in the water.

10 Swimming
Two elephants swimming in the waterhole.

11 Out
The elephants walking out of the waterhole.

12 Wet
The wet elephants walking out of the water.

13 Mother
The mother elephant looking at us.

14 In the Water
Two elephants swimming in the water.

15 In the Water
Two elephants swimming in the water.

16 Splashing
The elephant splashing water around with its trunk.

17 Jackal
A Black Backed Jackal- all alert with its ears up.

18 Behind the Tree
This large bull elephant is hiding behind the tree.

19 Hole
In its ear you can see a hole.

20 Eating
The elephant reaching out to eat.