As the sun began to rise, casting a warm, golden glow over the bush, Joy and I, accompanied by our eager guests, embarked on our morning game drive. Our mission for the drive was straightforward: to find the Ntsevu Pride and their nearly 10-month-old cubs in the eastern reaches of the reserve. Little did we know that a herd of elephants would turn this into an unexpected and remarkable morning.
While driving through the rolling hills in the southeastern part of the reserve, we saw some beautiful animals both big and small. We encountered a dazzle of zebras drinking water, their black and white stripes presenting a pristine reflection on the glasslike water. We also saw giraffes, tall and elegant, fighting with their long necks twisted together to show dominance.
Young male giraffe show off their strength in a playful ‘necking’ display right next to our vehicle
The clearings were full of impalas, dancing gracefully in herds as they woke up to the cool morning air. We watched many of the males chasing the herds of females around to ensure they were accounted for and didn’t drift away towards other males’ domains.
But it was the humble dung beetle that stole the show. With the warming weather, these industrious little creatures have emerged in droves. A massive ball of elephant dung rolled down the road ahead of us, a testament to nature’s intricate balance. We took a closer look and noticed two dung beetles on the ball. One doing all the hard work rolling the ball along the road and the other just holding on for dear life.
The dung beetles have been out in swarms and make for fascinating sightings! Generally, you will see a dung ball being rolled by the male, with the female clinging to the side,
After enjoying the show from the dancing dung beetles, we followed the telltale signs of fresh dung along the road, and it became evident that we were closing in on a magnificent encounter. The heart-pounding anticipation was palpable. We ventured further, rounding a bend, and there they were—thirty or more elephants, silently grazing in their natural habitat.
Their direction was clear. Slowly but steadily, they made their way towards a large watering hole. With an eager smile, I turned to my guests and told them,
“These elephants are heading directly towards a waterhole, for a drink!”
Guiding the Land Rover to the far side of the waterhole, positioned with the sun beautifully at our backs, we readied our camera lenses and iPhones, poised to capture the mesmerising spectacle that awaited us.
The first elephant arrived at the water’s edge and filled its trunk to pour the water into its mouth!
And then a mother and calf ambled up to the waterhole to quench their thirst.
And before we knew it, the rest of the herd stormed towards the water. This was a breathtaking moment observing 30+ elephants unperturbed by us and completely drawn by the waterhole.
The elephants approached the waterhole with great determination. From cute little babies to subadult males, all the way to the older and wiser females, they queued up patiently for their turn to drink. The rhythmic sounds of sipping and splashing filled the air, as they drank and enjoyed themselves in the water.
A frenzy of pushing and shoving ensued by the young elephants to get to the muddy edge of the watering hole. There were elephants everywhere we looked.
After taking several trunk fills of water, a young bull posed for us before walking off into the bush.
As the day continued to warm up, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. I watched with delight as these gentle giants had a good time in the cool waters, a privilege of nature that left my guests and me in awe.
When you get the chance to spend a lot of quality time with a herd of elephants, its a great opportunity to focus on the finer details of their body parts like their toe nails and the tips of their trunks.
We watched as the last member of the herd had its final sip and then walked off into the bushes leaving us in complete awe!
Time spent with Elephants is certainly never time wasted at all!
I love spending time with elephants in the bush because they are incredibly entertaining, and sincere and have a huge presence. Just being around them can be breathtaking. They remind me of the rawness of the wild, and I’m grateful for the unique connection we share with these gentle giants.
Though we may not have found the Ntsevu Pride on this particular morning, such a sighting of elephants always brings an enormous smile to my face. It’s a testament to the unpredictable beauty of a game drive at Londolozi.
Nick Tennick
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