While we’re on the subject of elephants; in four previous visits to the uMkhuze Game Reserve, an integral part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, we’ve never seen the reserve’s elephants, despite them numbering around a hundred animals. Finally that unlucky streak was broken on the 22nd of March this year during our fifth visit. We had been following the drive back to camp from Nsumo Pan, dodging droppings and broken branches on a wet road, when first the matriarch and then the whole herd emerged out of the thicket into the road ahead of us.
The whole herd were quite relaxed with our presence. The whole herd that is, except one youngster. He sneaked out of the thick vegetation like a cat on the prowl, keeping his head low as he came running towards us, only to stop with head held high and ears widely spread, doing his best to intimidate us. We tried not to laugh in his face though, because one day he will be enormous and he might remember us…
de Wets Wild 
What a lovely encounter. The matriarch looks very chilled and the playful youngster made me smile. Your and Joubert’s photos capture the elephants demeanors so well.
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Thank you very much, Carol. Elephants are always an entertaining sighting, whatever their mood.
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Pragtige olifant foto’s! Gelukkig kon ek bietjie lag oor die jong olifant se gesigsuitdrukking (hy weet mos nie van my nie … ingeval ons mekaar dalk eendag “raak loop”) 😁. Hy lyk amper so half verbaas dat julle nie vir hom geskrik het nie.
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Baie dankie, Corna! Die olifante gee ons darem groot genot wanneer ons hulle raakloop.
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Another amazing series of photos! Such expression in that youngster’s face. Bravo Joubert…you captured the moment beautifully. Just love these elephants! 💕
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We just can’t seem to get enough of these charismatic beings! Thank you, Lori.
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Magnificent beings
Beautiful shots
They are just such amazing animals in many ways. And, they look so sweet. They don’t appear as though they would charge and kill me. : )
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Thanks, Dawn! Treated with the necessary respect elephants are wonderful to watch.
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elephants are so cool.
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Very true!
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Wonderful elephant shots – although one can never be too relaxed around them, just in case. W thoroughly enjoy watching elephants too.
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Thank you very much, Anne. Aside from Addo, where the elephants seem to be on tranquilisers (I wonder if it is in the spekboom?), we’re always careful with elephants – both in herds and lone bulls – and take time to determine their state of mind before deciding whether to stay put, move closer or move on.
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These elephants are so good looking animals. This is a series of great pictures!. Thanks, D. and Joubert. 🙂
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We love elephants, H.J. Seeing them in the wild, acting like they should, really is such a privilege. Thanks for another kind comment!
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Great photos, Joubert!!That young elephant was really having fun. 😅
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Joubert will be thrilled to hear how much you loved his pictures, Sylvia. Thank you!
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**We never forget anything!!!** The young one does look quite impressive with his ears out like that. Is that their ‘charge’ stance?
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Standing tall with their ears spread out is how you know it was a mock charge, Lois. When it is the real thing they keep barreling down on you, trunk tucked beneath their chest, to smash into you with their head and tusks first…
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I did not know that about their ears and a mock charge. I just love all your photos, but especially those of the elephants. Tell Joubert I was in ellie heaven with these shots.
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I’ll tell him, thanks Lois, and you are in luck because our next post will also feature elephants!
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Such expressive shots, Joubert. The elephant remembering you reminds me of “Holiday in the Wild” (now one of our top Christmas movies) and the elephant that remembered Rob Lowe’s character. Elephants are pretty cute, even the big ones, although an enraged, charging elephant would be anything but cute!
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Thank you very much for the compliment, Janet – I’ll pass it to Joubert as soon as he wakes up this morning.
We simply love elephants – from the smallest to the biggest and from the meakest to the most aggro (though we give the latter a wide berth!)
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