Like a virgin

It all started in the morning before drive, while I was waiting for Zwaai to come, i heard what sounded like bones crunching just on the other side of the fence where the vehicle was parked. When Zwaai got there i told him what i heard, so we went to investigate and when we got there we saw my favourite female leopard watching her freshly killed impala been eaten by a hyaena, trying to have a better look the hyaena ran away, which wasn't intensional to scare the hyaena, but luckily for the leopard it was a blessing and she stole it back and got it up the closest tree, so we left her and went and fetched the guests. We got back with the guests and the branch had broken where she had put it and the hyaena had obviously stole it back, so I guess nature will prevail. We did see her, but all she got was the stomach. We left her and the wild dogs were found unfortunately we had to wait a while to get to see them, but luckily we had to wait cause we got a flat tire and had to change it. As we'd finished changing the tire, the other ranger said that it was our turn to see them and as we turned the vehicle around the dogs were trotting down the round towards us. We followed them for a while hoping that they would make a kill, but I guess it wasn't meant to be and we unfortunately we had to leave them so that other rangers and their guests could have a look at these rear animals. it was getting late and I suggested that we go and have a coffee break on the other side of the Sand River cause there was alot of animals and vehicles in the area that we were in. We got to our drink stop destination and just scanning the area I spotted a couple of elephants and said we couldn't stop there, but they were heading towards the dam we were at and said lets stay and watch them come drink and then we'll go for coffee. On closer inspection I said to the guests that there was four males and just the one female with her calf, which I initially thought was strange cause there was no other females. They'd finished drinking and started heading towards where we were, so I decided to give them space and moved back. The female proceeded to head towards us, so i moved again, but she wasn't showing signs of any aggression. Turning around to she where she was, and seeing that she was still following us was starting to be a bit concerning cause it was an open area. Eventually we got to spot where she didn't head towards us and turned around to see them and then one of the males stared chasing her, luckily not towards us!. She stopped not too far from us in plain sight of us and this Goliath of a male elephant mounted her and proceeded to mate with her. I was flabbergasted cause I've been in the bush for eleven years now and this was my first time ever seeing mating elephants. I felt really privileged to witness this special and stressful time for elephants, cause the calf was screaming it's lungs out while witnessing it's mother being mated with, I guess I would also wonder what was going on! But in all it was one of those drives where you say to yourself this is why I'm in the bush and why I love it so much.

Posted: Exeter Lodges by Craig Parsons, Date: 25 January 2010