An Afternoon at the Waterhole

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Geo: -24.7435, 26.2573

This afternoon Paul and I spent an hour and a half at the hide watching the animal's afternoon activities. We were not alone in observing the animals come and go from the waterhole - we were joined by the Ground Hornbill. The Ground Hornbill belongs to a breeding program at a lodge across the river, but it seems to spend more time at Jaci's than breeding with its partner.

The afternoon's sightings began with a small breeding herd of elephants drinking water from between the prickly branches. The prickly branches are from a Sickle Bush and are placed at the edge of the road to stop the elephants from destroying the road. Although, as seen in the photo, they are not bothered by the branch's thorns.

At this point the hornbill flew over and sat with us for a little while. We was hoping for more animals to visit the waterhole. Soon after, a bull elephant walked down the road with some zebra close behind him. I enjoyed watching the elephant and the afternoon light was amazing. We watched the elephant walk around the wetland area as he ate and drank.

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Photos

01 Drinking
A small herd of breeding elephants drinking water between the prickly branches.

02 Approaching
A pair of impalas running towards the waterhole.

03 Male Impala
The two male impalas slowed down once they noticed us chatting in the hide.

04 Hornbill
The Ground Hornbill that kept us coming this afternoon.

05 Head
A close up of the Ground Hornbill's head.

06 Keeping Company
The hornbill flew over to Paul to keep him company as he fixed the road.

07 Elephant
Out of the bush appeared this bull elephant.

08 Pecking
The hornbill pecking in the elephant poo looking for insects to eat.

09 Eating
The hornbill about to eat an insect that he found.

10 Elephant & Zebra
An elephant and zebra at the waterhole.

11 More Zebra
More zebra came into view as the elephant walked along.

12 Waterhole
The elephant approaching the waterhole.

13 Zebra
A zebra on the road walking along.

14 Elephant
The elephant is walking away from the waterhole.

15 Eating
An elephant eating grabbing leaves from the small tree.

16 Elephant
The bull elephant amongst the dry bush.

17 Head
The elephant's head, all covered in dust.

18 Hornbill
Our mate - the hornbill.