On a recent visit to South Africa and Botswana with a client of Live Life Safaris Washington DC, who is a keen photographer. We had planned an overland 4×4 safari on which we were not restricted by lodge schedules or other guests and could spend as much time as needed on each sighting for him to get the shots that he wanted. I have always said that patience while on safari is a key element in having the opportunity to experience great sightings and interactions. This trip was exactly that!
We had made our way north from South Africa and had passed through the Xakanaxa region of the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana just entering into the Khwai concession as the sun was setting on a very hot day in November. We were sitting quietly alongside an almost dry watering hole for our client to get some fantastic African sunset pictures when an incredible scene involving two herds of elephants took place…
As we were watching the sunset over a herd getting their last sip of water before moving into the bush for the evening we noticed another herd rushing in for a drink after a long hot day. Rushing in from the tree line we noticed a staggering calf, only two or three days old fall into a small hole and was struggling to get back up. Without realizing what had happened and rushing for the water the mother and the rest of the herd were distracted by quenching their thirst and had not noticed the youngster was missing and struggling in the small hole.
On the other hand the herd moving away from the water towards the bush had noticed the struggling youngster and what seemed to be the matriarch of this herd moved over and knelt down (unfortunately I did not get footage of this part) and appeared at first to be tusking the youngster to death, however as it turned out the motherly instincts of this matriarch was assisting the young calf out of the hole. As this was going on the mother realized she was missing her calf and rushed over to the other herd frantically. This was the part of this whole scene that I found the most fascinating…
On approaching the herd she was very cautious and clearly realized she was outnumbered and outsized by the matriarch of the herd who had rescued her calf. Amazingly she almost seemed apologetic as she acknowledged her mistake and as a sign of respect to the other herd and in particular the matriarch seemed to submit as she turned away and reversed her body towards her calf. Initially it seemed that the matriarch would not give up the “foster” child easily but after showing her disappointment in the parenting skills of her opposing mother by tusking her harshly on the backside she seemed to ease up a little.
All ended happily as one herd moved off into the trees and the other used the last of the daylight to assist the almost lost youngster in the slippery mud to get some well needed hydration for the evening.
Credits : Africa Geographic, November 2017
We had made our way north from South Africa and had passed through the Xakanaxa region of the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana just entering into the Khwai concession as the sun was setting on a very hot day in November. We were sitting quietly alongside an almost dry watering hole for our client to get some fantastic African sunset pictures when an incredible scene involving two herds of elephants took place…
As we were watching the sunset over a herd getting their last sip of water before moving into the bush for the evening we noticed another herd rushing in for a drink after a long hot day. Rushing in from the tree line we noticed a staggering calf, only two or three days old fall into a small hole and was struggling to get back up. Without realizing what had happened and rushing for the water the mother and the rest of the herd were distracted by quenching their thirst and had not noticed the youngster was missing and struggling in the small hole.
On the other hand the herd moving away from the water towards the bush had noticed the struggling youngster and what seemed to be the matriarch of this herd moved over and knelt down (unfortunately I did not get footage of this part) and appeared at first to be tusking the youngster to death, however as it turned out the motherly instincts of this matriarch was assisting the young calf out of the hole. As this was going on the mother realized she was missing her calf and rushed over to the other herd frantically. This was the part of this whole scene that I found the most fascinating…
On approaching the herd she was very cautious and clearly realized she was outnumbered and outsized by the matriarch of the herd who had rescued her calf. Amazingly she almost seemed apologetic as she acknowledged her mistake and as a sign of respect to the other herd and in particular the matriarch seemed to submit as she turned away and reversed her body towards her calf. Initially it seemed that the matriarch would not give up the “foster” child easily but after showing her disappointment in the parenting skills of her opposing mother by tusking her harshly on the backside she seemed to ease up a little.
All ended happily as one herd moved off into the trees and the other used the last of the daylight to assist the almost lost youngster in the slippery mud to get some well needed hydration for the evening.
Credits : Africa Geographic, November 2017
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