Being close to wild animals has its thrill. But sometimes the best sightings are observing animals from a distance. The Thanda guests on game drive were fascinated to see one of Thanda’s largest Elephant bulls following the herd while crossing a recently burned area. Strong winds and the evening sun created a very special twilight atmosphere!
Watch Thanda’s herd of Elephants having a bath at Mgankla Dam. The Thanda guests enjoyed observing these gentle giants playing with Water and Mud!
We are very grateful at Thanda for last summer’s heavy rain falls, which have ensured that our main waterholes still have water for our animals at the end of this winter (dry season).
Thanda guests enjoyed watching our two largest Elephant bulls having a drink together at one of largest dams. Last year at the same time this “bar” would have been closed already for the rest of the winter 🙂
Protect them! … no further comment …
Today’s Elephant sighting on Thanda was one of my best sightings ever.
We watched the Thanda breeding herd of Elephant and a few bulls for a long time. These amazing creatures ignored us while they were feeding and sparring around us.
There will be more posts from this sighting – too many great images for just one message 🙂
This first image is of one of the largest bulls on Thanda.
One of the youngest Thanda Elephants had to move fast to catch up with its mum. We had an excellent sighting this evening when the breeding herd crossed the road right in front of our vehicles.
Five of the Thanda bull were trailing the herd. The two young bulls in the picture below gave us a good look before they moved on.
One of the many advantages of a stay at a Private Game Reserve is that the guides know their environment very well. When viewing Elephants the knowledge of an individual bull enables great encounters. The Thanda guests on this drive enjoyed the close up and personal meeting with one of Thanda’s largest Elephant bulls, a very good natured individual.
This morning we spotted Thanda’s herd of Elephants in a remote area of the reserve. We watched from top of a hill as they faded in and out of the trees. After the herd had gone by Thanda’s two largest Elephant bulls were making their way across the valley.
Not only the closeup sighting can be magnificent!
This morning’s game drive on Ithala was excellent.
First I saw a lot of Baboons on a newly burned area …
… the I got some great shots of a Secretary Bird …
… and finally I found a small breeding herd of Elephants near one of the waterholes …
… and as per Ithala rule I kept my distance (over 30 meters from the herd). But one cow did not like me looking at all and chased me down the road. She was quite serious in her attack (ears back, trunk rolled up, so sound and fast takeoff). While driving with my left hand and watching her in the mirror I took a picture with my point and shoot camera out of the window at 40 kph…
An exciting morning at Ithala. I will be back!
I like all the wild animals on Thanda but if I had to name my favorite Elephant this is the one. His name is Thulani.
Normally I do not use individual names for wildlife, but for our two largest bulls (40-45 years old / approx 6 tons in weight) I make an exception. Thulani can be identified by his calm nature and the “slightly out of line” tusks.
The Thanda guests on my vehicle really enjoyed the recent sighting of this gentle giant.
Christian Sperka Photography | Custom Luxury Tours 