8 February 2015 ~ An Elephant Welcome

Listening to: Lou Reed ~ Take A Walk On The Wild Side, Orpheum Theatre, NY


Arriving at Exeter Lodge in Sabi Sands, we were shown to our lodges to freshen up and relax a bit before our first safari drive. We were all to meet back at the main hall for tea time and to meet our driver before heading out.

As we were gathering I looked up and out along the river, and lo and behold, I spotted an elephant! I was so excited! And not only one, but a herd came to welcome us to the lodge.

They do not chew cud, ruminate or belch as ruminant animals (e.g. cattle, bison, goats, deer) do. Instead they produce methane gas. Properly equipped, a car could travel 20 miles on the amount of methane produced by one elephant in a single day.

Elephants can be described as either eating machines or manure manufacturers, depending on their activity at the time. Elephants may feed for up to 16 hours a day. In the wild one animal can consume as much as 600 pounds of food in a single day, although 250 – 300 pounds is a more typical amount.

The massive amount eaten coupled with an inefficient digestive system means lots of manure. An elephant defecates from 12 to 15 times a day, a daily quantity of 220 – 250 pounds.

http://youtu.be/N6poE1JlHQA

This will give an idea of how far away they were. There are no borders to keep the animals in or out, and we had to remember we were guests in their home. We'll end up much closer to the animals, but great for our first sighting on the reserve.

Ready to play.

The little elephant was quite entertaining and in the playtime establishing some boundaries and learning new skills.
http://youtu.be/B3G32GkToT8

http://youtu.be/1yUZcfNRtCY

The matriarch led the family off in a new direction after the river swim and shenanigans.