Elephant Sands

It was quite an adventurous drive today to Elephant Sands. Firstly we stopped at a disinfectant road stop. We had to get out of the truck with our spare shoes and step into disinfectant buckets. The truck then drove through a large disinfectant puddle. This is to prevent foot and mouth disease spreading through areas of the country. As we drove we saw a group of elephants at the side of the main road drinking from the water mains. We slowed down to take photos. It was crazy that the elephants were not worried about us being so close to them and they continued on drinking. At other spots there were zebra, kudu, oscriches, cows and goats grazing close to the road.

Elephant Sands was our accommodation for the night. It has a waterhole and the lodge pump fresh water into the hole every day. There were signs around the accommodation site to "give way to wild elephants". When we arrived we were surprised to see over thirty elephants at the waterhole. The elephants would walk straight by the accommodation to the waterhole for a drink and then walk pass again when they went searching for food. When I went to the bathroom I had to check right and left to ensure there was no elephants passing by before crossing over the path. It was crazy.

We sat beside the waterhole for hours observing how the elephants interacted with each other. The seating area was only two meters from the elephants and it was breathtaking to be so close to them. Elephants are known to be quite intelligent animals. Instead of letting the water fill up the whole pond, the elephants drank directly from the tap to get the fresh water. This meant that the elephants would shove each other to try and get their trunk to the water tap. Some elephants even stuck their ivory tusks into other elephants bums to get the other elephant out of their way. It was also funny watching an elephant running from a distance towards the waterhole and try to figure out the best route to get to the water tap. At times there would be a roar from an older elephant to warn the others to stop messing. The roar from the elephant was surprisingly very loud. After drinking some elephants would spray themselves with muck. Other elephants stood to the side resting their trunk on their ivory or standing on three legs having a rest. It was difficult to decide to go to bed as the elephants were so entertaining.

I woke up at 5am to watch the elephants before our breakfast. This time there was only one elephant drinking at the waterhole. It was fascinating hearing them vacuum the water into their trunks before they place the water in their mouth. It was a special moment to be alone watching the elephant move around while the sun was rising. I thought seeing all the rhinos at the waterhole in Etosha National Park was going to be hard to beat but staying so close to wild elephants was incredible.Read more