Elephants in the bush

It’s nice to go on a  game drive with a ranger; being able to focus and enjoy nature and wildlife totally, and of course trying to take the best photo ever. But ….. it’s also very nice to go on a game drive, in an open game vehicle, without a ranger; just touring together is a different experience. Especially with typically only four game drive vehicles on the 21,000 hectare reserve at any one time – it feels like you are the only one in the bush.

photo Anton Kruger

Afternoon game drive

One afternoon in February, these co-owners decided to drive to one of the waterholes following a trail running along a dry river bed; a beautiful area with stunning rock formations.

The bush was starting to get green and they had a beautiful sighting of a group of kudus, undisturbed, munching on the fresh leaves.

Following an elephant

Getting closer to the waterhole, they spotted a male elephant walking in the direction of the waterhole. He was taking a short cut, going at a steady pace through the bush. It’s always an unbelievable experience: one moment you can see an elephant, the next moment he’s gone.

Despite the fact that they are so huge, they just seem to blend in with their environment, and most of the times you can’t even hear them as they seem to glide through the bush.

The co-owners followed the track to the waterhole, stopped the game drive vehicle next to the hide and to their surprise noticed another elephant just leaving the area, walking in the direction of the other elephant on his way to the waterhole. They didn’t know what to expect, couldn’t see the elephants because of the bush, and waited.

Suddenly they heard the elephants rumbling and knew that they had ran into each other. More waiting…., but that was rewarded.

Two playing elephants

The first elephant showed up at the waterhole followed by the second elephant. Totally unaware of the co-owners the elephants entered the water, were very relaxed and ended up with a sort of arm-wrestling with their trunks. It was all very playful and wonderful to watch – later some research informed the co-owners that this is a casual way of figuring out who is stronger. After having stayed for almost an hour at the waterhole, loving every minute of it, the co-owners decided to leave the elephants alone and enjoy their sundowner at one of the many beautiful spots in this unique private game reserve.

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