It probably goes without saying that the African Elephants are the star attractions at Addo Elephant National Park, and the grey behemoths certainly are not shy to show themselves. These charismatic creatures are a joy to behold as they go about their daily routines, and their social interactions are always fascinating to watch.
Young elephants especially are full of energy and just love roughhousing with a playmate whenever the opportunity presents itself.
And if there’s no other elephant youngsters around to play with, warthogs and zebras will do just as well – if only they’d stand still!
When watching elephants in the water there’s just no denying that they are having loads of fun at the pool!
Mid-morning at Addo’s Hapoor Dam we were watching a herd around the waterhole, and noticed two baby elephants playing together. One little tyke sauntered off to its mother for a drink of milk, while one remained standing in the original spot. And when he realised he was all alone, and feeling hungry, there’s only one thing a baby elephant knows to do to get mom’s attention: THROW A TANTRUM! He squealed and trumpeted, stomped his feet and even stood on his hind legs for a split second, until mom came running looking more than a little embarrassed at her boy’s behaviour! What parent doesn’t know that feeling?
At the hide in the camp we peaked through a hole in the fence to get this picture of a touching moment between mother and calf. Elephant heaven.
de Wets Wild 
Circuses – it still goes on, tragically.https://robinsaikia.org/2021/04/04/elephants-in-venice-1954/
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Thankfully the elephants in the Addo Elephant National Park are able to live their whole lives free to roam their natural habitat.
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Gorgeous photos – elephants are complex creatures be they babies or adults!
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And wonderfully entertaining! Thanks, Carol.
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Best elephants’ photos ever!
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You’re most generous with your praise, Hien. Thank you so much!
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What a neat collection of images! As ungainly as elephants appear at first glance, their grace belies that ungainly first impression. I am sure that it is fascinating to watch them go about their daily life tasks.
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A mesmerizing experience, John. They’re very charismatic creatures and very easy to get totally absorbed into watching them.
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Wow, what fun all these must have been to watch and shoot.
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It really was, PJB. Really.
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Ag die baba olifantjies is te dierbaar!
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Uit-en-uit die waarheid, Aletta
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What a treat to see the elephants play in the water Dries and wonderful images by Joubert too! 🤗
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Thank you very much, Xenia!
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The ‘trouble’ with the elephants at Addo is that watching them becomes so absorbing – and one cannot help taking so many photographs of them – that one has to remind oneself that there are other animals and birds to see. This is especially so on our day visits!
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That’s very true, Anne. Not once did I manage to complete the route I had in mind when we left camp in the morning because invariably we spent more time than expected at sightings like these. Definitely not reason for complaint!
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Die heel klein Ollies is darem te dierbaar. Daar bly tog altyd een wat met almal sukkel. Nes kinders wat mekaar karnuffel. Dit was nou regtig n suksesvolle fotosessie gewees. Lekker speel bly maar lekker.
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Was vir ons net so lekker om hulle dop te hou as wat dit vir hulle was om te speel!
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Kon dit sien en agterkom. As mens eenmaal begin om fotos te neem stop mens nie sommer nie vearl as mens altyd dink die volgende is nog beter skoot.
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This post, I found it to be the sweetest and more endearing. You show clearly that elephants have a noble soul. Thank you, D. Good work D. and by your assistant Joubert. 🙂
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Thank you very much for the kind compliments, H.J!
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Such wonderful photos of these elephants. When we were in Kenya and our kids were young they were fascinated by the elephants and the babies with their mothers. Thanks for reminding me of that time.
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Africa really would be empty without its elephants. They have such “presence”. I’m glad but not surprized to know they left such a lasting impression on you and your family, Anne.
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These are wonderful!
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Thanks, Linda!
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What a wonderful bunch of photos! They were all great but the baby elephant in the mud was just too much. I was smiling and laughing through the whole thing. Kudos to both photographers.
janet
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Thank you very much, Janet! Wonderful to know the little elephants brought you as much joy as it did us.
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I am in heaven! These are wonderful! Joubert–what great action shots you got. Poor little elephant just wants to play…the warthog running away is so cute. Fantastic post!
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We knew you’d love this one, Lois, so count it as being especially for you!
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Thank you SO MUCH! ❤
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