There is something magical about elephants. Many people share this sentiment and I am certainly one them. The sheer size of these majestic animals is enough but the manner in which they go about their daily lives adds to their mystique.
So, when my guests and I came across a herd of at least fifty elephants one morning, we knew we were in for a treat.
The morning in question was a bright sunny one and this young elephant really seemed to be enjoying the new day. He rolled around in the sand and then spent the next few minutes scratching his rear end in the dirt.
We have been seeing quite a few herds moving through the reserve of late and occasionally they amalgamate into abnormally large groups. The reasons for these large congregations vary, however the main reason is usually that the elephants are gathering around a specific resource.
In this case, the resource was the lush vegetation near the banks of the Sand River as well as the nearby crests dotted with marula trees. Many of the older females of the various herds will recognise each other, and these gatherings almost serve as reunions in a way. After some time, the large ‘super herd’ will split back into smaller family groups and each group will go off in a different direction. This ‘super herd’ in particular was at least fifty strong and we watched as one by one, more elephants emerged from the thicket.
Two young bulls came hurtling out of the bush in a full blown tussle. While the ‘fight’ was more playful than serious, it still served as a good lesson in combat that will serve these two youngsters well when they reach reproductive age.
The two young males wrestled back and forth for at least half an hour before they ran out of steam.
When a large herd of elephants moves through an area, they leave all sorts of signs of their presence. From broken tree branches to tons of dung, an astute observer will be able to tell that many elephants have been around. These signs also attract the attention of big bull elephants who will move into the breeding herds to inspect whether or not any of the females are ready to mate. The large bulls will dominate the space and will not tolerate younger males attempting to mate with any of the females. As we watched the young males fighting we noticed a much larger shape looming in the distance. Not too long afterwards, the young males were eclipsed by a massive elephant bull who was trailing the herd in search of females.
This enormous bull dwarfed the females around him. We estimated that he weighed over five tonnes and probably stood taller than three meters at the shoulder.
The presence of the large bull didn’t seem to bother the females and they grazed contently while the young calves played at their feet. The open clearing seemed like a good feeding ground and the herd move slowly through the area on their way down to the river.
An up close view of an elephant’s tusk. Notice the groove near the tip of the tusk – this is known as a ‘grass-notch’. A grass-notch develops over time as the elephant wears away the tusk by repeatedly using the tip of the tusk to help break branches and tufts of grass.
Eventually, the herd moved off and later that day they had already disbanded. The sighting, however, remained with me. Seeing these amazing animals in one of the last havens for them is something very special and long may we have the chance to see amazing elephants roaming free.
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Looking forward to seeing these elephants and all their antics! Appreciated your report and photos.
Lovely blog, Nick!. Always enjoy talks / articles / pics on elephants. They are indeed almost a magical animal and are incredibly intelligent with emotional feelings which are very strong – from knowledge I have gained from reading books! Bring us more on them, Nick, if you could? Wendy M
Thank you Nick for such wonderful images and for sharing this unique experience! Let’s hope they will survive and thrive for a long time
My goodness but that is a huge elephant bull, look at those tusks. He is so beautiful in all his glory. It looks as if the elephants come together for eating and to socialize with each other. Loved to see that huge bull one day. The two younger bulls play fighting keeps them busy and gives them good practice.
My absolute favorite animal. New reports show they are in even more trouble than was thought, so thank you for providing them a relatively safe space. Some people do not know how much anti-poaching work Londolozi and other reserves do. And I believe it is only that and eco-tourism that will save them. I sure do not want to live on a planet without wild elephants.
Thank you for your comment. I’m also so pleased that the elephants are able to live out a peaceful existence at Londolozi and in the Greater Kruger.
Anytime you can sit quietly with ellies is a good time well spent!
Totally agree Lisa! It’s peaceful and the opposite of what I imagined it would be like.
Nick, all I loved elephants🤗
Love your post on the elephants Nick, and a hearty “Hear! hear!” To your sentiment on their longevity in their natural habitat.
What a bonus to spend an afternoon with this huge herd of Eli’s! Thanks for sharing Nick 🙏🏻
Always so very special for Alan and I, as you well know ☺️
I had you two in mind when I wrote this!
Watching a small group of Ellie’s is such a treat, but a super herd must he totally amazing and unforgettable! Excellent images and storytelling, Nick.