The African elephant is one of our favourite animals, and every encounter we have with them is special and memorable. There’s just something so majestic in the confident swagger of the big bulls, so tender in the loving care of the cows and so playful in the antics of the calves.
Mature bulls weigh up to 6000kg and stand as high as 4m at the shoulder, while cows measure up to 3.4m high and weigh up to 4000kg. The forest elephant of Central Africa, a different race to those occuring here in South Africa, are much smaller.
Such a soulful eye…
Ivory up close
Elephant whiskers
Mature elephant bull
Elephant cow and calf
Elephant breakfast
Big bull standing tall at Lismore waterhole
Tiny calf staying close to mom at Spekboom
Elephant bull on the Gomondwane Loop
Addo’s Tusker Derek (2017/12/26)
Elephant’s Tail
Elephant’s tail
Elephant bull
Elephants drinking from a temporary stream
Elephants drinking from a temporary stream
Elephant Cow (photo by Joubert)
Elephant tusk
The trunk of African Elephants have two “fingers”
The herd is the core of elephant society, and comprises an older, experienced, dominant female or matriarch, her sisters and daughters, and their calves of varying ages. Sometimes these smaller family units join up with others to create massive congregations of 200 or more animals. Elephants are active throughout the day and night, resting in the shade only during the hottest hours of the day, usually near water. Their intelligence is legendary and the close bonds between herd members, who look after their sick and dying kin as much as they can, has always been an inspiration to humans.
Herd rushing to water
Playtime!
Elephant cows in Addo are mostly tuskless
Elephant herd crossing a road in Kruger Park
On the road in Pilanesberg National Park
Crossing the wide, sandy Letaba River
A tusk can be a useful resting place for a tired trunk
Elephants love playing in water, even big bulls like this
Elephants drinking at De La Porte waterhole
Crossing the Sabie
Elephants claiming the right of way
Wary elephant trio
Big elephant herd feeding in a reedbed
Another herd of elephants arriving at Hapoor
Elephants everywhere you look (Hapoor)
The next day, as we passed Hapoor, the elephants were getting together again
Elephant family
Herd of elephants on the dry plains south of Olifants
Protective elephant herd
Thirsty herd of elephants rushing to the water
Elephant crossing
Elephant mock-charge
Elephant youngster
Addo Elephants
Addo Elephants
Addo Elephants
Addo Elephants
Addo Elephants
Elephant cresting a hill
Elephant herd on the move
Elephant at Rathlogo Pan
Young elephant
Young elephant with a spring in his step (photo by Joubert)
Elephant Family
Tiny, tiny elephant baby
Tiny, tiny elephant baby (photo by Joubert)
Big Elephant bull at Pilanesberg Centre (photo by Joubert)
Elephant Bull walking away near Cape Vidal
Small herd of Elephants at iZindondo Pan
Elephant from Senyati’s underground hide
Elephant Silhouettes
Elephant from ground level
Elephant drinking from the pool at Elephant Sands’ Eco Lodge
Elephants abound in northern Botswana
Sandgrouse, doves and elephant sharing a waterhole
Elephants abound in northern Botswana
Elephants abound in northern Botswana
Elephants abound in northern Botswana
Elephants abound in northern Botswana
Elephants abound in northern Botswana
Elephants abound in northern Botswana
Mature bulls are mostly solitary, or accompanied by younger bulls known as “askaris”, and maintain a dominance hierarchy through threat displays and fights that would sometimes lead to the death of one of the combatants. After being forced from their maternal herds at the onset of puberty, around 15 years of age, bulls will only join up with the breeding herds again temporarily to mate.
Impressive bull
Mature elephant bull
Elephant bull
Scratching an itchy ear
Mature bull exuding confidence
Play fighting
Drinking at Tembe
Splish-splash
Three big bulls walking in single file along a road in the Pilanesberg
Elephant in a downpour
Dominant bull striding up to welcome a newly arrived family group at Hapoor
Elephant bull on the way to Orpen
Here elephants have right of way!
Elephant bull
Tired old elephant bull crossing the road
Elephant
Addo Elephants
Addo’s Tusker Derek (2017/12/26)
Addo Elephants
Addo Elephants
Elephant bull enjoying a puddle near Mopani
Elephants on the way to Phalaborwa Gate
Unknown Kruger Tusker (2018/03/21)
Elephant near Mopani
Elephant bull owning the road in Kruger National Park
Big old elephant bull
Elephant drinking from a reservoir
Elephant along the stream
Elephant drinking at Bhejane
Big elephant bull in musth
Old Elephant bull on the S145 near Talamati
Elephant bulls after enjoying a muddy portion of the waterhole
Elephant bull after enjoying a muddy portion of the waterhole
Elephant bulls in procession
Elephant bulls in procession
Elephant bulls in procession
Elephant bulls in procession
Elephant bulls in procession
Elephant bulls in procession
Elephant bull drinking
Elephant Silhouette
lephant from ground level
Elephants are able to inhabit any habitat that has sufficient food, water and shade – they occur from the Namib Desert to Africa’s equatorial forests. They are big ecological drivers and a crucial component of the ecosystems in which they occur, having an immense impact on their environment. Their seemingly destructive feeding habits serves to prevent bush encroachment and provides niche habitats for a wide variety of smaller fauna. Consuming up to 300kg of plant material per day, the copious amounts of dung (about 100kg of dung per animal per day!) they produce provide an important source of food for a myriad of small animals, birds and insects. Elephants are not particularly fussy about what they eat and include herbs, grass, reeds, leaves, seeds, pods, bark, roots and branches in their diet, but they are rather fond of mopane trees and mlala palms.
In the hot African sun any shade will do!
Big Elephant Bull in contemplative mood
Baby Ellie
Elephant bull at Mestel Dam
Elephant herd quenching their thirst at Shitlhave Dam
Elephant youngster enjoying a snack while crossing the road
Elephant calf (Photo by Joubert)
Thirsty Tusker (Photo by Joubert)
Two Elephant bulls marching into the distance (Photo by Joubert)
Elephant warning (Photo by Joubert)
Elephant herd on the run to Red Rocks (Photo by Joubert)
Elephant Calf (Photo by Joubert)
Elephant Bull (Photo by Joubert)
Sunset elephants in the Shingwedzi (Photo by Joubert)
Elephants gathering in their numbers along the dwindling waterholes in the drying Mphongolo River
Elephant roadblock
Elephant bulls sharing a waterhole
Elephant cow with interestingly shaped ivory
Elephant cow with interestingly shaped ivory
Beautiful elephant bull
Beautiful elephant bull
Beautiful elephant bull
Elephant bull destroying a small tree
Cute elephant calf
Beautiful elephant bull
Elephant calf fast asleep
Tiny ellie baby
Big old elephant bull
Classically shaped ivory
Elephant calf
Elephant herd moving along a dry river
Elephant herd running to the water
Elephant tussle
Elephant cow drinking at Red Rocks
Big elephant bull in musth
Elephants arriving at Tlopi’s dam
Elephant
Elephant cow that’s had enough to drink now
Matriarch of her herd
Taking that first step across the stream
Big Bull (photo by Joubert)
Big Bull
Elephants drinking from the Chobe River
Elephants drinking from the Chobe River
Elephants making their way to the Chobe River
Elephants making their way to the Chobe River
Elephants on the banks of the Chobe River
During times of drought, elephants will dig wells in apparently dry river beds, thus providing water not only for themselves but also for all other wildlife in the vicinity. An adult elephant requires between 150 and 300 liters of drinking water daily. After years of continuous use, elephant mudbaths are enlarged and transformed into pans and waterholes that hold water for extended periods into the dry season. Several of South Africa’s passes were built along tracks used by countless generations of elephants to cross our mountains.
A well dug by elephants in a dry streambed
Thanks to their trunk elephants have excellent reach when browsing
Marula tree damaged by a foraging elephant
Digging for roots
The trunk is so versatile!
The trunk is so versatile!
Elephant breakfast
A lone bull drinking from the trough at Peasland
Elephant calf
Elephant
Elephant
Elephant digging for roots using its foot and trunk
Addo Elephants
Addo Elephants
Addo Elephants
Addo Elephants
Elephant at Rathlogo
This elephant cow didn’t appreciate our presence one bit, even though we gave her plenty of space!
Elephant teenager showing off!
Elephant visiting us at Thutong one night (caught on our camera-trap)
Baby elephant
Elephant youngster
Close-up detail of an elephant’s tail
Baby Elephant walking away with mom
Elephant Bull
Elephant Bull
Elephant Bulls
Elephant Cows begging for a chance at the waterhole
Elephants enjoying the water and mud
Elephant youngster
Elephant rough-and-tumble
Elephant herd in a rush to water
Elephant Bull at Hapoor Dam
Three little warthogs and an Elephant
Elephants playing in the water
Elephant calf
Tiny Elephant calf
Elephant bull taking a drink of water
Two elephant bulls greeting each other
Elephant cows in Addo seldom have well developed tusks
Elephant cow and calf
Elephant herd in a rush to the waterhole
Elephant feeding on a Plumbago
Baby elephant
African Elephant
Elephant Bull
Elephant tusk close-up
Elephant bull in musth
Elephant Bull in Manyeleti
Some elephants came so close to us that we noticed the hair around their ear openings!
Elephant bull
Elephant bull
Elephants at sunrise
Elephant family
Elephant family
Baby elephant
Baby elephant
Baby elephant
Baby elephant
Baby elephant
Elephant bulls
Elephant bull
Elephants at the waterhole
Elephants at the waterhole
Elephants at the waterhole
Elephants at the waterhole
Elephants at the waterhole
Elephant bull
Elephant cows give birth to single calves (twins are extremely rare) at any time of year, after a 22-month gestation period. The calves weigh about 120kg at birth an can stand within an hour of being born. They are weaned at the age of two years, by which time they’ve become quite adept at using their trunks to feed and drink water.
Tiny elephant calf
Tiny elephant calf
Baby elephant threat display
Fits neatly under mom’s belly.
So small and cute
Didn’t realize mom has moved on 😉
Only a few days old
So small and cute
Playful elephant youngsters
Elephant Cow and Calf
Elephant friends
More cows and calves at Hapoor
More cows and calves at Hapoor
Very thirsty calf running for the water
Tiny calf staying close to mom at Spekboom
Tiny calf staying close to mom at Spekboom
Calf suckling at Marion Baree waterhole
Protective cow at Lismore waterhole
Elephant calf
Elephant calf
Elephant calf
Elephant calf
This little elephant was probably less than a day old and very unsteady on his feet
Tiny new herd member
Old matriarch
Baby elephant show-off
Seymore Butts
Baby Elephant Naptime at Addo
Addo Elephants
Addo Elephants
Addo Elephants
Addo Elephants
Addo Elephants
Addo Elephants
Addo Elephants
Testing the wind
Tiny baby next to mom
Young elephant interactions
Elephant cow
Baby elephants fast asleep in the heat while the rest of the herd stand guard
Big Elephant herd at Makorwane
Baby elephant friends
Baby elephant
Laughing Elephant calf
Elephant cow and calf
Playful Baby Elephants
Baby elephants playing in the mud
Baby elephants playing in the mud
Cute little elephant testing the air
Helping a reluctant friend cross the stream
Helping a reluctant friend cross the stream
Learning by imitating the grown-ups
Shaking off the dust from his ears (photo by Joubert)
This grass is so soft to lie on!
Young elephant trying to chase away the birds at the water’s edge
Practicing her balance! (photo by Joubert)
Practicing her balance! (photo by Joubert)
Making a splash
Arriving at the water’s edge
Ears peaked in irritation (photo by Joubert)
Ears peaked in irritation
Ears peaked in irritation (photo by Joubert)
Tiny youngster crossing next to mom
Tiny youngster crossing next to mom
Tiny youngster crossing next to mom (photo by Joubert)
Tiny youngster crossing next to mom (photo by Joubert)
Tiny youngster crossing next to mom
Tiny youngster crossing next to mom
Tiny youngster crossing next to mom
Tiny youngster crossing next to mom
South Africa’s wild places is home to several “Big Tuskers“; elephant bulls carrying exceptionally long and heavy ivory. Many of them are named, and become tourist attractions in their own right; living monuments to South Africa’s proud conservation history. The longest tusks recorded in South Africa, 3.05m and 3.17m, belonged to Shawu, a tusker from the Kruger National Park that became famous as one of the “Magnificent Seven” in the 1970’s and ’80’s. The heaviest belonged to Mandleve, who died in 1993 and was also from Kruger, with a combined weight of over 142kg.
Isilo of Tembe
Masbambela (of Kruger)
Tusker Masthulele, Kruger National Park
Unknown Kruger Tusker (2018/04/02)
Hahlwa (2018/04/01)
Xidudla (2018/03/29)
Nambu (24/09/2019)
Elephant Bull
Being one of Africa’s famed “Big 5“, elephants are a sought-after species for anyone visiting wildlife reserves where they occur. However, elephants are extremely dangerous and should be treated with the utmost respect. They can charge at speeds of between 40 and 50km/h, much faster than any human can run. Bulls in musth, a heightened state of aggressiveness fueled by elevated testosterone levels that drives their urge to mate and fight for dominance, are very irritable and will charge without much provocation. Mothers are extremely protective of their calves and you should never find yourself between a cow and her offspring. It is always best when viewing elephants to give them plenty of space and pay attention to any warning signs they may give: a head held high, ears held wide open, trunk tucked under the body, shaking the head and ears are all signs that you are too close and need to move away fast.
Mock charge!
Lucky escape!
In playful mood
Better get a move on!
Showing off
Stretching
Agitated due to invisible lions
Showing off
If he chose to, this bull in the Pilanesberg could easily reach someone in the viewing hide.
Just a little irritated
Testing their strength
Elephant Bull (photo by Joubert)
Elephant youngsters testing their mettle
Elephant youngster
Big old elephant bull
Elephant tussle
Elephants at Welverdiend waterhole
Elephant drinking at Spekboom waterhole
Another cute elephant calf
Elephant cow and calf
Sleepy elephants
One of the elephants that Addo is famous for
One of the elephants that Addo is famous for
The future is secure for Addo’s elephants
Big elephant bull being very protective of a youngster at the Marion Baree waterhole
Elephant walking side-by-side with us
Elephant antics at Leeupan (photo by Joubert)
Mom and baby elephant at Leeupan (photo by Joubert)
Elephants congregating at Leeupan
Elephant antics at Leeupan (photo by Joubert)
Elephant antics at Leeupan (photo by Joubert)
Elephant wiping dust from its eye (photo by Joubert)
Elephant stretching to reach ripe Sycomore figs (photo by Joubert)
Elephant conductor (photo by Joubert)
Elephant coming to drink from Mlondozi Dam
Elephant matriarch with impressive tusks
Elephant munching on a thorny branch
Elephants congregating in a dry river bed
Elephants congregating in a dry river bed (photo by Joubert)
Adult elephants have little to fear from other animals, and lions and spotted hyenas are the only predators that realistically pose a threat to calves and juveniles. Most elephants succumb to fights, sickness, drought or old age. Old elephants spend most of their time feeding on green, soft vegetation along watercourses, due to them having worn our their last set of molars at about the age of 55 years, finding it increasingly difficult to feed on harder plant material. They then eventually die in these areas, possibly giving rise to the myth of an elephant graveyard.
Today, elephants in Africa and Asia are faced with the threats of escalating poaching, habitat loss and various other conflicts with humans. With an estimated 100 African elephants killed daily for the illegal ivory trade in Asian markets, their population is in rapid decline. World Elephant Day was launched on August 12th, 2012, to bring attention to the plight of these iconic animals, and has been observed annually since.
Elephant along Tshepe Drive
Elephant along Tshepe Drive
Elephants crossing the Black Umfolozi
Elephant cow
Elephant bull walking along the main road
Elephants (photo by Joubert)
Elephant
Elephant visiting at Tlopi
Elephant roadblock at sunset (photo by Joubert)
The very noticeable “grass notch” shows that this elephant is left-handed!
Elephant bulls walking away from Tihongonyeni Waterhole
Elephants on the banks of the Letaba River
Elephants, plains zebras and a giraffe around one of the springs in the Nshawu Marsh
Elephant feeding on mopane leaves near Tihongonyeni
Elephants at Mooiplaas Waterhole
Elephant bull drinking from Grootvlei Dam
Elephant herd walking away from Mooiplaas Waterhole
These regal creatures are under immense threat, highlighted by the recent “hunting” of Cecil, a Zimbabwean lion known around the world and one of the subjects of a lion research project that’s been running for many years. Sadly, Cecil’s death was not an isolated incident and many more of his species die in this fashion daily. Hopefully, the quite justified uproar over the killing of this specific individual will result in change for the better, ensuring a brighter future for Africa’s biggest cat.
It will be a sad day indeed when the lion’s roar no longer rumbles across Africa’s wild places.
Royal Natal definitely has some of the most spectacular scenery in the entire Drakensberg Range, and when you’re lucky to have the kind of beautiful weather we enjoyed here today, it really would be a sin to spend any time indoors!
We’re spending the Women’s Day long weekend at Thendele, in the Royal Natal National Park. We couldn’t have asked for a more glorious winter’s day. We’ve been hiking and having picnics all day, and now we’re kicking back in one of the most beautifully situated camps in the country.
My sister, Ansie, and I headed to the Kruger National Park for a 5 night visit in the early morning of Friday 17th July. After our latest trip to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, Marilize had business to attend to and Joubert had to be back at school the following Monday, as the winter school holidays had come to an end. This therefore was a great opportunity for some sibling bonding in a place where we’d spend many wonderful days together growing up. Just a few hours easy drive along the N4-highway got us safely to Malelane Gate, on the southern border of the reserve, at around 08:30.
Malelane Gate, always a welcome sight after the drive from Pretoria
The route from Pretoria to Malelane, approximately 380km (drawn with Google Maps)
Just a few minutes spent getting our entry permit issued and to send a few quick text messages to let the loved ones back home know we arrived safely, before setting off into the Park. Our route took us along the S25 Crocodile River drive to Lower Sabie Rest Camp, where we’d booked the next two nights in a safari tent on the bank of the Sabie River.
Buffalo on the S25
Lilac-breasted roller
Spectacular giraffe sighting
Crocodile in the Sabie
Serrated Terrapin in the Sabie
Grey heron in the Sabie
Tiny, as yet unidentified, bird at the roadside
Elephants and impalas mingle on the bank of the Sabie
Crossing the Sabie
Lower Sabie Tent 26, July 2015
After checking into our accommodation and unpacking the luggage and supplies, it was time to get back on the road again for our afternoon drive. We opted for just a short drive past Duke’s waterhole and Nthandanyathi Hide to the south of camp, and spent the last few minutes before the gates closed enjoying a magnificent sunset from the causeway over the Sabie just outside camp.
Kudu crossing the road
Blue wildebeest
Remains of a leopard kill
Lower Sabie sunset
We awoke early on Saturday morning, eagerly anticipating what Kruger would have in store for us that day. We decided to stay out all day, and were one of the first vehicles waiting at the camp’s gates to open at 06:00. Lower Sabie’s renowned for predator sightings, which explains why it is so popular among visitors and often fully booked months in advance. Not long after leaving camp we encountered a pride of lions near Lubyelubye, keeping Lower Sabie’s reputation intact. After being robbed of our breakfast rusks by a big baboon at Nkuhlu Picnic Spot, we continued along the Sabie and onwards to Transport Dam via the S65-route. From there we had to get past a considerable traffic jam (where two lionesses, apparently with well-hidden cubs, were baking in the sun on a rocky outcrop), to get to Skukuza, where we enjoyed a picnic-lunch at the day visitors area near the Selati railway bridge. To get back to Lower Sabie, we chose the S21 Nwatimhiri Road, a gravel route that follows the course of the mostly dry stream of the same name. We were one of the first cars out that morning and one of the last to return to Lower Sabie that evening, just minutes before the gates closed at 17:30 – a long but very rewarding day in the wilds of the Kruger National Park.
Lion greeting near Lubyelubye
Early morning in Kruger
Grey duiker
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Steenbok
Lionesses, on the rocks
Elephants drinking at De La Porte waterhole
Squirrel at Skukuza
Greater Blue-eared starling at Skukuza
Magpie shrike south of Skukuza
Kudu and impala at Renosterkoppies
Arrow-marked babbler at Nkuhlu
Elephant drinking from the Sabie
Saddle-billed stork
Elephant cow and calf
Sunset Dam, at sunset…
After dinner, it was time to take our usual stroll through the camp, taking some night time photos along the way, before turning in.
Elephant next to the fence
A family of Greater Greater Cane-rat
Night time view from our tent’s deck
Sunday was another early start to the day – we had to pack and head to Satara Rest Camp, northwards from Lower Sabie. We detoured to Mlondozi Picnic Site for breakfast, and ticked a quick leopard sighting (no photos unfortunately) about half-an-hour after leaving camp, completing the Big-5 for the trip less than two days into our visit. A quick pit-stop at Tshokwane and then arrived at Satara just in time for lunch, under the watchful eye of several of the camp’s feathered inhabitants.
Hyena on the S29 to Mlondozii
Mlondozi Dam
Hippos in Mlondozi Dam
Waterbuck
Warthog
Giraffe, with Nkumbe in th background
Klipspringer on Nkumbe Mountain
A herd of wildebeest seen from Nkumbe
Giraffe drinking at Mazithi (Kruger Park)
Plains zebras
Waterbuck
Frightened kudu
Bushbuck
Elephant
A huge troop of baboons
Another kudu
Cape Glossy Starling
Burchell’s starling
Yellow-billed hornbill
Impala lilies
African Mourning Dove
Satara is the departure point for the next part, and undoubtedly the highlight, of this particular trip to Kruger – the Sweni Wilderness Trail. I’ll be telling you all about this incredible experience soon, in another installment of de Wets Wild.
It probably comes as no surprise that we’re inspired by the beauty of a tranquil South African sunset, like this one over the Sabie River near Lower Sabie Rest Camp, in the Kruger National Park.
“Inspiration” is the theme for this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge
The 31st of July is set aside as World Ranger Day, a day to appreciate the work these dedicated people perform on behalf of humanity, to celebrate their successes and commemorate those that laid down their lives in the line of duty.
Having just spent three days with two exemplary rangers on the Sweni Wilderness Trail in the Kruger National Park, it became as clear as ever just what an incredible debt of gratitude we owe the men and women protecting our natural heritage.
In the 20 years that I’ve been visiting the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, I’ve never seen the Black Umfolozi River bone-dry at the bridge on the way to Mpila Camp. That changed when we visited in July 2015. A drought has the north of Kwazulu-Natal Province in its firm grasp and it is evident that the Park is unfortunately not escaping its ravages.
Travelling south-west after entering at Memorial Gate, through the Hluhluwe-section of the Park, we couldn’t help noticing how parched even this normally lush area has become, a marked contrast from when we visited in December 2014. Game-viewing was easy going, as animals were congregating in their numbers around the remaining water sources and the denuded vegetation provided little cover. After checking in at Mpila, we headed for Sontuli Loop, our favourite drive in the reserve.
Yellow-fronted canaries searching for food in rhino dung
Giraffe cleaning regiments can be tricky…
Red-capped Robin-Chat in Hilltop Camp
Samango Monkey in Hilltop Camp
A dry Black Umfolozi
Lions on the sand in the bed of the Black Umfolozi
Impala
Elephants visiting a small pool remaining in the Black Umfolozi
The next morning saw us out exploring Imfolozi at the break of dawn. The animal population seems to be coping well with the harsh conditions and we had good sightings of several species of birds, mammals and reptiles. Unseasonably hot weather, in the low 30’s Celsius, saw us return to Mpila for a siesta during the midday heat before taking our afternoon drive to Ubhejane Hide .
Imfolozi sunrise
Imfolozi sunrise
White rhinos
Blue wildebeest
Huge herd of buffalo heading for a pool in the Black Umfolozi
Wahlberg’s Eagle
Warthog
White rhinos
Vervet monkey
Nyala at Ubhejane Hide
Giraffe and Imfolozi scenery
Imfolozi sunset
Overnight a cold front accompanied by strong gusts of wind passed over the Park, seeing temperatures drop to less than half of what they were the previous day and overcast conditions prevailing throughout. This allowed us to stay out exploring for most of the day, visiting the Centenary Centre for lunch (we can highly recommend the ostrich burgers sold at the take-away kiosk!). A drive out to the extreme south-west corner of the reserve that afternoon put our minds at ease with the knowledge that the White Umfolozi River, that runs through the Park’s wilderness area, is still flowing, albeit only a trickle compared to the normal situation.
Buffalo on Sontuli Loop
Buffalo close-up
White rhinos
White rhinos
White rhinos
Thirsty baby zebra
Who can’t love that face?
African Pied wagtail
Cheetah mother and her large cub, seen close to Mpila
Wildebeest remains at Mohlolokozane
Green-winged pytilia (male)
Playful elephant youngsters
Baby white rhino
More of the same wintery weather greeted us as we woke on our last full day in the Park, and the hot cup of coffee and rusks we enjoyed that morning at Ubhejane Hide was indeed very welcome. By now we knew the few remaining pools at the viewpoint over the Black Umfolozi (near point 17 on the Park map) was like a magnet to wildlife, and finding three big male lions there guarding one of them was no surprise. The band of brothers remained in the same spot all day, doing what lions do best – sleeping! As for the de Wets, we headed for Sontuli Picnic Site for a lovely braai (South African barbeque) and then enjoyed our traditional last slow drive along Sontuli Loop at dusk before heading back to camp.
Nyala ewe
Blue wildebeest drinking at Ubhejane
Warthog sow
Lions in the Black Umfolozi
Buffalo chewing the cud
Irritated buffalo cow
Buffalo making their way over the Black Umfolozi’s sandy bed
Elephants claiming the right of way
Red-billed oxpeckers
White-backed vulture
Blue wildebeest
It’s unbelievable how quickly time passes when enjoying South Africa’s wild places. Leaving the Park on the morning of the 15th of July, we were concerned about the effects a prolonged drought would have on the Park’s vegetation and wildlife. Recent news about good rains falling in the area therefore was extremely welcome. It might not break the drought, but it will replenish the waterholes and hopefully carry the wildlife through to summer when (hopefully) more rain should come.
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For our July 2015 visit, we opted to enter and exit the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park at Memorial Gate, in the north of the reserve (a 7-hour, with stops, 570km drive from our home in Pretoria), and spent four nights at wonderfully wild Mpila Camp in the Imfolozi-section of the reserve.
Mpila cottage 17
View from our cottage
The neighbours at Mpila
House sparrow at Mpila
A view of the dry Black Umfolozi from Mpila
The route from Pretoria to Memorial Gate (drawn with Google Maps)
Sadly the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is under threat; if a proposed coal mine on the southern border of the reserve gets given the go-ahead it will mean the end of the reserve’s renowned wilderness area and much of its, and the Isimangaliso Wetland Park’s, ecological integrity. Visit “Save our Imfolozi Wilderness” if you’d like to add your voice in opposition to this unnecessary and unwelcome development.
DeWetsWild 