Elepant Mud Bath

Water holes that have been holding the rain water from past rains has started to dry up and with that congregations of elephants have started to become larger. Each waiting their turn in anticipation of getting to the waters edge to take a refreshing drink. One would think that with so few water holes being available the intelegence of an elephant would dictate to keep this water as clear a possible and try keep the waters from becoming to muddy. This is not the case though. Having watched a large batchelor herd take their turn drink their fill a large bull pushed to the front creating a ruacus amoungst the younger bulls taking a drink. Having chased the youngsters from the waters edge the large bull took his turn in drinking his share. After what seemed ages of sucking up hundreds of liters of water and pouring it down his throat time and again, the large bull walked to the middle of the pan and dropped to his knees. As if in slow motion the large bull rolled onto his side and rocked himself from back to toe. Wetting his whole side and mudding the clay water. After churning up the water and soaking his thick skin with water and mud the bull, with some effort rolled to his stomach and took rest. As like a dof sitting on its huanches the elephant gaint sat, prehaps catching his breath? Some moments later the bull dropped to his other side and proceeding to mirror the actions he had taken moments before to drenched his thick hide again. Once his entire body was covered the bull roicked to his feet and rose out of the water. Mud and water dripping from his belly the gaint moved out of the pan and inot the heat of the day,protected by his cool mud coating. Unfortunately other elephnats after his coming to drink suring got a mouthful of his mud which could not have been as refreshing as the bull had experienced.

Posted: Savute Under Canvas by Savute Under Canvas Botswana, Date: 3 August 2009