Face to Face with the Big Elephant

---

Geo: -27.5911, 32.021

This morning we woke up very early and packed up our tent. We left the campsite at 5am and began our last game drive in Mkhuze Game Reserver. We saw a lot of little birds which Paul enjoyed identifying. Our aim was to drive directly towards the Opansi Gate.

On a side road we saw a pair of white rhinos. It was a calf and its mother which had a very long pointy horn. Further along this side road spotted a large bird of prey sitting at the top branch of a dead tree. It was a type of vulture with its head and neck tucked into its chest to preserve its energy.

We also saw a male nyala that was too quick for a clear photo as it ran across the road in front of us. Near the road we drove past a tower of giraffe, with the baby one stopping to look at us. Close by there was a herd of wildebeest happily eating grass, as well as a breeding herd of impala. We stopped to watch an active troop of baboons doing their thing - climbing, eating and scratching.

Our next stop was to observe a beautiful large giraffe walking towards us. Now we were close to the gate. We were driving down a dirt road and in the distance there he was - Malema. Our guide Patrick from yesterday's guided walk had warned him about us, as an angry old male elephant. Malema continued slowly walking towards us and would not get off the road. He is a big elephant. His ears were damaged, possibly through fighting other elephants or from thorns.

Paul continued to reverse our car. It was a while since we passed another road and the vegetation either side of the road was quite thick. Our other option was to get off the road and allow Malema to pass. We came to a small open clearing and Paul used this space to manoeuvre the car into a safer position against the elephant. Malema continued to walk along the road, but he did look at us in our safer place. At the same time he shook his head and sniffed us with his trunk. We watched him as he continued to walk along the road. It was time for us to leave Mkhuze – our next destination was a quick stop in the town of St Lucia.

Just outside the reserve there was a large wetland area. There were many varieties of water birds here, we didn't stop here as we didn't how safe it was to stop and wander about.

---

Photos

01 Pointy
This angle shows us how pointy this rhino's horn is.

02 Looking at Us
The rhino mother and calf looking directly at us.

03 Big Bird
A large bird of prey sitting on the dead tree.

04 Quick
The nyala quickly running across the road.

05 Young One
A young giraffe looking at us.

06 Staring
The herd of wildebeest stop what they are doing to stare at us.

08 Still Staring
Despite us having been there for a least 5 minutes, they are still unsure of our presence and are watching us.

09 Female
A female nyala running off into the bush.

12 Baboon
One of the baboons up in the tree.

13 About to Jump
This baboon is about to jump into the tree.

14 Along the Road
This baboon is running along the road.

15 Malema
The big, grumpy elephant we were warned about!

18 Birds
Birds in the wetland just outside of the reserve.

19 Signs
Signs warning us of all the wild animals.