Satara Summer 2021 – Admiration for Elephants

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It is estimated that there are over 30,000 African Elephants in the Kruger National Park (SANParks annual report, 2020-2021, p48) and as a result visitors to the Park can bargain on regular encounters with these charismatic animals. That certainly was the case when we visited in December 2021, and as they are among our favourite animals you will hear no complaints from us.

Elephant herd along the Olifants (Elephant’s) River
Elephants at Sable Dam (photo by Joubert)
Elephant herd crossing the road
Elephant herd in lush greenery near Tshokwane
Elephant youngster in the rain
Elephant cow with sweeping tusks
Young elephant crossing the road
Elephant herd crossing the road
Elephant herd crossing the road
Elephant herd crossing the road
Elephant herd crossing the road
Elephant cow with very impressive tusk
Herd of elephants arriving to drink at Mazithi Dam
Herd of elephants arriving to drink at Mazithi Dam (photo by Joubert)
Herd of elephants arriving to drink at Mazithi Dam (photo by Joubert)

Could there be anything cuter than a baby Elephant!? Judging by the number of tiny calves in each of the herds we encountered the Kruger Park’s Elephant population is very healthy and still growing!

Baby elephant cuteness
Baby elephant cuteness
Baby elephant cuteness
Baby elephant cuteness (photo by Joubert)
Baby elephant cuteness (photo by Joubert)
Baby elephant cuteness (photo by Joubert)
Baby elephant cuteness
Baby elephant cuteness

There are few things in wild Africa as imposing as an Elephant bull

Spiteful elephant!
Elephant roadblock in 35-degree heat
Elephant bulls
Beautiful elephant bull
(photo by Joubert)
Elephant with White Stork
Young Elephant bulls are often very cocky (photo by Joubert)
Young elephant bull (photo by Joubert)
Young elephant bull (photo by Joubert)
Elephant bull
Old Elephant Bull
Irritated Elephant Bull (photo by Joubert)
Elephant Bull with a floppy ear
Elephant grazing outside Muzandzeni Picnic Spot
Elephant comrades
Elephant Bull
Elephant Bull (photo by Joubert)

When encountering a bull Elephant in musth on the road, it is wise to give them a wide berth. In this state Elephant bulls are very irritable and down right aggressive, making for some exciting and memorable encounters. With their elevated testosterone levels these bulls simply ooze self-confidence and I simply love that assertive swagger that goes with it. On the 19th of December this bull made us reverse for quite a few kilometers along the H6-road between Satara and Nwanetsi.

Elephant owning the road
Elephant owning the road
Elephant owning the road (photo by Joubert)
Elephant owning the road (photo by Joubert)
Elephant owning the road
Elephant owning the road (photo by Joubert)
Elephant owning the road

It took only one mock charge from this musth bull we encountered along the very narrow and winding S147 Ngotso Loop to convince us to vacate his vicinity.

Elephant bull in musth
Elephant bull in musth (photo by Joubert)
Elephant bull in musth (photo by Joubert)
Elephant bull in musth (photo by Joubert)

When bulls in musth meet they are bound to get involved in serious fights for dominance and mating rights. These bulls clashed just outside the Tshokwane Picnic Site – it is the roofs of the Ranger Post that you can see in the background of some of these images.

Elephant tussle (photo by Joubert)
Elephant tussle
Elephant tussle
Elephant tussle
Elephant tussle
Elephant tussle
Elephant tussle
Elephant tussle – a challenge is extended (photo by Joubert)
Elephant tussle – the challenge is accepted (photo by Joubert)
Elephant tussle (photo by Joubert)
Elephant tussle (photo by Joubert)
Elephant tussle (photo by Joubert)

On Christmas morning, just a few minutes away from Nwanetsi, these two younger bulls provided great entertainment. They seemed to be in the throws of fighting, but one of the combatants kept trying to keep a tree between him and his adversary. It was funny seeing how the one would push down the tree only for the other to try and re-plant it between them before the argument would move to a different tree or bush where the whole sequence would be repeated. Eventually one’s nerves gave in and he tried high-tailing out of the area as quickly as he could, but the other would not have any of that and followed at speed.

Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi (photo by Joubert)
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi (photo by Joubert)
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi (photo by Joubert)
Young Elephant Bulls fighting near Nwanetsi

Older bulls often carry very impressive ivory; long and thick. We are always delighted to see these icons of Kruger.

Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent (photo by Joubert)
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent (photo by Joubert)
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent (photo by Joubert)
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent
Kruger’s mature elephant bulls are magnificent

We encountered this particularly impressive one-tusked fellow on three separate occasions during our December 2021 visit to the Kruger National Park.

Enormous tusker
Enormous tusker
Enormous tusker (photo by Joubert)
Enormous tusker (photo by Joubert)
Enormous tusker
Enormous tusker

Some bull Elephants with notable tusks are given names by the Park staff. This is Kukura, a tusker first recorded in 2015 and monitored since then by the rangers and researchers in the Kruger National Park.

Tusker Kukura, 24/12/2021
Tusker Kukura, 24/12/2021 (photo by Joubert)
Tusker Kukura, 24/12/2021 (photo by Joubert)
Tusker Kukura, 24/12/2021

 

32 thoughts on “Satara Summer 2021 – Admiration for Elephants”

  3. photobyjohnbo

    Elephants are fascinating creatures. I have watched a couple of documentaries on their lives. The one most memorable focused on a group headed by the aging matriarch and her struggles to keep the youngsters alive as they moved to their summer watering home.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Talking about good documentaries about elephants, John, you must see if you can find “Reflections on elephants” by Dereck and Beverly Joubert. To my mind the most evocative film ever made about these amazing animals.

      Liked by 1 person

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  4. Writer Lori

    What an amazing sequence of photos! I love the elephants and am so happy to hear that the population is thriving in Kruger. We, too, had a close encounter with a big bull in musth when we visited the park…certainly got my blood pressure up. 😳 We we’re happy to give way and move along….

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  6. Tranature - quiet moments in nature

    What an amazing encounter on the road Dries, you really captured the bull’s attitude in these images! A beautiful series, thank you so much for sharing 😊

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. Aletta - nowathome

    Olifante is darem maar ongelooflik groot! Die ou bab olifantjies is te pragtig en soos Corna se hulle mag klein wees, maar ek sal hulle beslis nie onderskat met sterkte nie. Was eenkeer ook met ‘n skool toer daar en het by die Punda Maria hek ingegaan. Ons het ook ‘n groot mannetjie raakgeloop wat die bus graag wou wys wie die baas is. Was maar moeilik vir die busbestuurder om so agteruit te ry, die kinders was vir ‘n verandering doodstil! 😀

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  8. wetanddustyroads

    Dit is darem ‘n pragtige dier! En weereens laat dink jou pragtige foto’s my aan ‘n kinder rympie wat ek en my broer altyd oor en oor vir mekaar opgese het:
    “Oom Olifant, jou reuse dier. Die mense lag vir hul plesier. Want waar het jy al ooit gehoor van ‘n stertjie van voor en ‘n stertjie van agter?”
    Die klein kalfies lyk so lomp, maar is heel waarskynlik nog steeds ‘n sterk dier! Dankie dat jy julle mooi foto’s met ons deel.

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  9. H.J. for avian101

    I think the African elephant takes the first prize among all the animals in the wild kingdom. They are very popular and so unbelievably large. Thank you D. & your official assistant photographer Joubert. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. lois

    First hippos, then elephants…my week is made! The baby elephants are so cute. And the others fighting with the tree in the middle…that is funny! Great storytelling photos, Joubert!

    Liked by 1 person

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  12. Anne

    What a wonderful collection of dramatic elephant pictures you have put together here. The elephants in the KNP are far more aggressive than those in Addo and it is far better to give way to them. That large bull bearing down on you looks just the sort you do not want to ‘mess’ with.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      That Addo’s elephants are probably the most laid-back wild elephants anywhere on the planet is certainly true, Anne. But is there a sight more beautiful to behold than a Kruger tusker come swaggering down the road towards you? Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.

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