September is generally regarded as the start of the spring season in South Africa, but with the rainy season still weeks away and temperatures starting to climb higher as the days grow longer, it is a very dry period of the year in most of the northern parts of the country. In our wild places, like the Kruger National Park, animals are seen congregating at or near the few remaining sources of water. The Mopani area of the Park is well served by several reliable waterholes and here visitors to the Park can expect interesting sightings of birds and animals taking turns at the water’s edge.
Mopani is situated on a hill overlooking the large Pioneer Dam, making this the most prominent of the area’s water sources. Visitors can get close to the water along the trail through the camp or at the Pioneer Hide.
Another large body of water in this section of the Kruger Park is Grootvlei Dam, more distantly located from Mopani along the S50 gravel road to Shingwedzi.
Watch this short video of a big Elephant bull drinking from Grootvlei Dam on a hot September morning:
On the way to Grootvlei visitors can make a detour first to the Mooiplaas waterhole, where a drinking trough is fed by a windpump and reservoir, and then along the Nshawu Marsh where several springs provide water even in drought years. Both these places are also well frequented by large predators waiting for thirsty herbivores to ambush.
Because Mooiplaas (meaning “pretty farm”) is so close to Mopani, we love whiling away the last few minutes before the gates close there, and that’s exactly what we did when this herd of Elephants were having their sundowners.
DeWetsWild 
Such dazzling photos.Never tire of looking at these magnificent creatures.
Thank you, Lori! Same goes for us, but of course you already knew that! 😉
Ja-nee, dit blyk na die ideale plekke om vir ure te gaan sit en jou te verwonder aan al die diere. Pragtige foto’s Dries. Ek lag lekker vir die ou klein olifantjie wat op jou laaste video so dorstig water drink 🙂.
Olifante het net die wonderlikste geaardhede. Ek sal nooit genoeg van hulle kan kry nie!
What a feast for our eyes! You have put this together very well indeed – thank you.
Your comment is very kind indeed, Anne. Thank you very much!
Dis ‘n nuwe een vir my. White-faced Whistling ducks. Nog al besonders. Hoe groot is hul in vergelyking met gewone eende(Mallard ducks) wat mens maar by meeste waterplekke kry?
Jy sou miskien al van Nonnetjie-eende gehoor het in Afrikaans, Ineke. Hulle verskil nie veel in grootte van die Mallards nie, maar is meer lenig. Hul geluid is vir my pragtig. Jy kan meer oor hulle hier lees: https://dewetswild.com/2017/08/28/white-faced-whistling-duck/
Nee kannie onthou van Nonnetjie-eende. Het gaan luister, baie duidelike fluit, geen gekwaak nie.
I enjoyed these videos, Dries. In the 1st one it was like that elephant was looking at you and purposely drinking in sloooow motion. Made me laugh.
The baby elephant in the 2nd video was so cute! Moved right in there and didn’t let up drinking! I was so happy you zoomed in for a bit. I knew that was for me. 😆
I really was thinking about how much you were going to enjoy seeing the elephants in action while I was making both videos, Lois! I am glad to know you enjoyed them so!