My posts are about "Memorable Bush Moments (MBM's)".
Surprisingly enough, these don't happen that often, not for me, anyway. We see many animals doing their normal "thing" - eating, ruminating, dozing or just standing/lying in one spot. As interesting as this is for people new to the bush, I need something more to make it "memorable" - uncommon or previously unseen behaviour, interaction between different species.... you get the drift?
This particular "moment" happened in September whilst on safari in Kruger. The photos are not all of "professional quality" but I think you will get a "feel" for the action..........
Location:- Nsemani Dam, near Satara, Kruger National Park
We had already been at the waterhole for a few minutes watching a pair of youngish male elephants play in the water and then leave it for some semi-serious "tusk measuring" contests.
They eventually broke off and moved off to the right along the upper bank of the waterhole.
This was just as a small herd of zebra came down to drink.........
The pictures speak for themselves (please remember to see enlarged pictures click on the first one).
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| The ele on the left had just chased off some Egyptian geese... |
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| A peaceful scene, until..... |
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| see how he sneaks up behind the bushes..... |
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| and then a sudden charge right behind the zebra! |
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| and they've gone! |
10 comments:
Thanks Sue! How nice of you to mention me. Wonderful scene - I was wondering what it would have been like on video... What a lovely life for an elephant to know that because of his size he can scare off anyone from the waterhole! I think you've said before that even lions don't face them.
Thanks again
Caroline
Hi Sue,
thanks for sharing this moment. Elephants can indeed provide some memorable moments in the bush.
A few year back I observed a similar scene at the Okaukuejo waterhole in the Etosha park: over hors I had been watching herds of zebras, impala, Kudus, Oryx and the like come to the waterhole. Especially the Zebras are usually very edgy when drinking (sometimes up to their bellies in the water, though) and more than once they started running out in droves upon even a duck flying up from the centre of the pool.
An adolescent elephant male (funny how its's never the females ...;) came down to drink on "my" side of the waterhole, opposite from where the zebras were.
All of a sudden he starting waving his head, trumpeting and shaking his trunk. he so much seemed to enjoy the panic he created among the zebras, he waited for several minutes until the (I counted roughly 100 of them) zebras were all back by the waterhole before repeating the same drill. he actually played through the same scene 5 or 6 times before getting bored and wandering off ...
Please keep the articles coming and take care
Dirk
@ Caroline - it's always a pleasure - I enjoy your blog so much:)
As Dirk mentions in the next comment, male elephants seem to enjoy being the big bully - especially at waterholes - and as he says - I've never seen females do it.....
It's also why I tend to be much more cautious when near younger male elephants whilst on game drives:)
Thanks for your lovely "memorable moment" Dirk - I eagerly await your blog???
The elephants were my favorites at Kruger & Addo. Just needed more time to sit in one place and observe instead of moving on for the next species. SA calls me to return.
Hi Coral .. I love the bully boy tactics - bet the zebra don't though!
Love the story line and photo .. cheers Hilary
@ Gaelyn - I think you should answer that call. The second time round one always has more time to just sit and watch:)
@ Hilary, fortunately I think the zebra had had enough water by the time the ele decided to bully them:)
Beautiful photographs, as always. I just love your candid, natural photographs of these wonderful animals.
Don't mess with an elephant. They'll do the messing, thank you very much. LOL. I have a friend in Kenya who is very afraid of the elephants but has warmed up to them after going to the Elephant Orphanage near Nairobi. Elephants have such great qualities.
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