A Detour Down the Riverbed
Ilan Ossendryver was out on a game drive with Jock Safari Lodge, and the outing began with a lioness in the bush. After spending some time with her, the group carried on down the riverbed, still buzzing from the sighting.
It was already a good drive, but nobody had any idea what was waiting around the corner. Soon a herd of elephants appeared, making their way down the embankment and into the riverbed to drink.
The vehicle settled in to watch the family arrive, and the big grey shapes moved with the slow, unhurried confidence that only elephants seem to have.
Playtime in the Sand
As the adults settled in, everyone’s attention shifted to the youngest members of the herd. Two calves had decided that the soft sand was far more interesting than a drink.
They rolled onto their backs, flopped onto their sides and scrambled back up, only to clamber on top of each other and start the whole thing over again.
According to Ilan, it looked just like children playing on the beach at the seaside, and it’s easy to see why. There was soft sand, no rush and a friend to tumble with.
Their little trunks flopped about with a mind of their own, and every wobbly wrestling match ended in a heap of tiny grey legs. The adults, meanwhile, went about the serious business of drinking, seemingly unbothered by the commotion happening nearby.
If adorable moments like this brighten your day, our WhatsApp Updates Group is the perfect next step. It’s where we share the latest viral wildlife content, along with some of the best sightings happening in the park, including plenty of baby animals getting up to mischief. Follow the link to join!
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Learning Through Play
Play is far more than entertainment for a young elephant. Wrestling, climbing and pushing each other around helps calves build strength, balance and coordination while they figure out how their bodies work.
Even the trunk is a complicated tool that takes months of practice to master, and a rolling, tumbling session in the sand is a great way to get some of that practice in.
Play also builds social bonds. Elephant calves are raised by the whole herd, with mothers, aunts and older siblings all keeping a watchful eye, and that safety net gives youngsters the confidence to be silly.
Rolling in sand has a practical side too, since a coating of dust and sand helps protect delicate skin from the sun and biting insects.
Life in the Riverbed
Riverbeds are important places for elephants, especially when the weather turns dry. Herds come down to drink, and they are known for digging into the sand with their feet and trunks to reach water beneath the surface.
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The open, sandy stretch also gives the family a clear view of their surroundings, which makes it a comfortable place for the little ones to let loose.
The Simple Joys of the Bush
Sightings like this remind us that the bush isn’t only about hunts and drama. Sometimes the best moments are the quiet ones, where two calves, a patch of sand and a bit of freedom are all it takes.
Ilan set out on a game drive and came home with a memory that will bring smiles for years, proof that the simplest sightings are often the ones we treasure most.
