I miss my ellie friends

Way back when I started working in the tourism industry I worked as a freelance tourist guide and one of the companies that used me had tours going to Addo Elephant National Park just about every day.  That means that I got to go to the park 5 or 6 times a week and I never got tired of it.  These days I don't get to visit Addo nearly as much as I would like to and when I had the opportunity to drive through it on my way to a meeting I didn't say no.  It was nice to spend some time with my old ellie friends, even if it was only for an hour or two.

Tuskless elephant

The majority of the female elephants in the Addo Elephant National Park are tuskless.  The general opinion amongst laymen is that it's because of selective hunting of the elephants with big tusks in the late 19th and early 20th century while others think it may be due to the vegetation (structure and/or nutrient composition) of the area.  Long term records have been used to assess trends and it has been found that although it could have played a roll, selective hunting solely cannot provide adequate explanations for the high frequency of tusklessness.  Non-selective genetic changes resulting from the population's isolation, small size and bottlenecks (during the 1800s and 1920s) are suggested to be primarily responsible for the ladies in Addo not having tusks. 

Random elephant "did you knows"

I haven't done a "Random ..." post in ages, so for today I'm doing three

Random elephant did you knows. 

 

An elephant's trunk, which is a fusion of their nose and upper lip, contains over 100,000 different muscles.  African Elephants also have two finger like features on the end of their trunk that they can use to grab small items with.  Indian Elephants on the other hand only has one of those "fingers".  An elephant can lift up to 350kg with their trunks. 

Elephants have circular feet with soft tissues or "cushion pads" beneath the manus and pes.  This helps to distribute the weight of the animal.  They appear to have an extra "toe" similar in placement to a giant panda's extra "thumb", that also helps with weight distribution.  Five toenails can be found on both the front and hind feet.

Elephants have their mammary glands situated between their front legs similar to humans and primates and strangely enough, they do look like breasts.

 

The pictures were all taken in the Addo Elephant National Park

The magnificence that is Addo Elephant National Park

I've been in the tourism industry for 16 years and first started out working as a tourist guide back in 1998.  Back then I used to go to Addo Elephant National Park sometimes as often as 5 or 6 times a week and people used to ask if I didn't get tired of going there.  I did get tired of the drive to and from the park but I would never get tired of the park itself.  It quickly became one of my favorite places to take tourists and I enjoyed ever new day as much as the one before, getting as excited as my guests when we encountered elephants or other game.  These days I don't get to visit the park anywhere close to what I would like to, but when I do I make the most of it.  I often think people who have never been to Addo don't realise how special the park really is and those comparing it to Kruger does it a great injustice.  No it's not Kruger but it offers magnificent sightings, amongst it the best wild African elephant sightings in the world.  Tourist guides like my friend Craig Duffield of Mosiac Tourism calls Addo his office.  I often wish I still did.

Baby elephant at Addo Elephant National Park

International visitors to South Africa all has Kruger Park on their lists of places to see in the country but what many of them don't realise is that you can get just as good an experience in the Eastern Cape.  Addo Elephant National Park is probably one of the most under rated game parks in the country with perceptions changing as soon as people get there.  You may not be able to spend 4 or 5 days there like in Kruger, but the variety of animals, birds, plants and sightings are up there with the best.  On my last visit we were watching a family right next to the road and this little guy decided to move away from his mother and allow to snap his picture.   

Waterhole interaction

A couple of young bulls interacting at the Hapoor Waterhole in the Addo Elephant National Park just like a couple of young men would at their local watering hole

Mock charge

On a recent visit to Kuzuko Lodge in the greater Addo Elephant National Park we had some amazing sightings.  The afternoon game drive started with a close up sighting of their two male lions before we encountered a herd of elephants in a valley close to the lodge.  The matriarch put up a spectacular mock charge what with flapping ears, stamping of feet and the shaking of a poor little bush.  Unfortunately I didn't have me camera at the ready and missed the whole performance.  Shortly later we did have this young bull look at us with a bit of attitude and a skew camera angle gave me very much the same effect as if it was the matriarch in the picture. 

Elephant family

One can never emphasise enough how amazing a park the Addo Elephant National Park is.  I think a lot of people underestimate Addo but the beauty of that is that when they visit their expectations are completely blown away.  I always say, and I do so because I believe its true, that Addo is the best place in the world to view wild African Elephants in their natural environment.  Over the years they have become used to visitors' vehicles - not tame - which means that its often possible to have them walk closely past a vehicle giving visitors mind blowing sightings.  Very much like this family that walked straight at and past us on a recent visit.

Pumba elephant

After a quick visit we were driving out of Pumba Game Reserve and passing Water Lodge when we found an elephant approaching across a field towards us.  Unfortunately for me the sun was behind him so I couldn't really get a great picture, but that doesn't matter.  He came lumbering along, looked at as pass him and then proceeded down the track towards the lodge.  Probably for breakfast.

Looking back at him moseying along towards the lodge  as we were driving away

Elephant silhouette

I would never ever say no to an opportunity to go on a game drive.  Although I worked as a tourist guide for many years I never worked as a game ranger.  It never really crossed my mind back when I started working, but perhaps if I could do it all over again I may just have gone into that direction.  I still love being out in nature, watching the animals, the sun going down or coming up and most importantly I always have my camera on hand in case a nice picture presents itself.  Watching a herd of elephants on a game drive at Pumba Game Reserve recently I looked back behind the vehicle just to spot an lone elephant feedings on a tree while silhouetted against the setting sun.  Need I say more?

Die klein dingetjies

Dis so maklik om as reisiger soveel op die groot dinge te konsentreer dat mens die klein goedjies miskyk.  Gedurende 'n besoek aan Addo Elephant Back Safaris in die Zuurberge net langs die Addo Olifant Nasionale Park het ons onder andere saam met die olifante gaan stap.  Terwyl hulle water gedrink het het ek hierdie skoenlappertjie langs die dammetjie gekry en hy het lank genoeg stilgesit sodat ek langs hom kon gaan lê om die foto te kry.

Die Groot Vyf

Wie of wat is die Groot Vyf?  Kom ons wees meer spesifiek en sê die Groot Vyf van die diereryk, anders dink mense dalk ons praat van lande, natuurwonders of toerisme-attraksies.  So, wie of wat is die Groot Vyf van die diereryk?  Dis nie die vyf grootste diere of die mooiste vyf nie, maar die vyf wilde diere wat die gevaarlikste was om te voet te jag in Afrika.  Ek sê was want vandag is dit niks om 'n dier vanaf die agterkant van 'n bakkie of uit 'n helikopter te skiet nie.

Die eerste en grootste dier op die lys is die olifant wat tot die familie Elephantidae behoort.  Die Afrika-olifant  (Loxodonta africana) is beide algeheel groter en het groter ore as die Indiese olifant (Elephas maximus), wat beperk is tot Indië en Suidoos-Asië.  Die soogdier wat huidiglik die nouste verwant is aan olifante is ... wag vir dit ... die Suid-Afrikaanse dassie.  Dit is omdat beide dieselfde beenstruktuur in hulle voete het.  Die foto is in die Addo Nasionale Olifantpark geneem wat seker een van die beste plekke in die land is om wilde olifante van redelik naby te besigtig.

Die leeu (Panthera leo) is een van die vier "groot katte" in die genus Panthera.  Dit is die tweede grootste katspesie naas die tier en weeg tussen 150 en 250 kilogram.  In die natuur word leeus tussen 10 en 14 jaar oud, terwyl dié in gevangenskap tot oor die 20 jaar oud kan word.  Hulle word nie verniet die koning van die oerwoud genoem nie, alhoewel hulle nie regtig oerwoud diere is nie en eerder op die savana's en bosveld van Afrika voorkom.

Daar is gereeld besprekings onder mense oor of dit die swart- of wit-renoster is wat ingesluit is in die Groot Vyf.  Die kleiner swartrenoster (Diceros bicornis) kom gewoonlik in bosse voor en is die meer aggresiewe van die twee terwyl die witrenoster (Cerarotherium simum) meer in ooptes voorkom omdat hy gras eet.  Die swart-renoster is die een was oorspronklik ingesluit is in die Groot 5 alhoewel albei oor die algemene aanvaar word.  Renosters is in die laaste tyd verskriklik geteiken vir hulle horings wat op die swartmark in die Ooste verkoop word.  Dit het so erg geraak dat ek nie met veiligheid kan sê waar die foto van die swartrenoster hierbo geneem is nie.

Die buffel is 'n gelyktonige hoefdier van die familie Bovidia, en die subfamilie Bovinae.  Die buffel word geken as 'n formidabele en onvoorspelbare teenstander en kan tot 56km/uur hardloop.  Buffels is sekerlik die mees onderskatte van die Groot Vyf en 'n gewonde buffel is uiters gevaarlik met verskeie jagters wat al gedood is in buffelaanvalle. Ou veldkenners beweer dat 'n gewonde buffel op sy spore teruggaan en die jagter sal voorlê.  Die Kaapse Buffels in die Addo Nasionale Olifantpark het hulle hele manier van lewe verander na hulle amper uitgeskiet is in die vroeër 1900's en het so te sê nagdiere geword todat leeus weer in die park ingebring is in die vroeër 2000's.  Voor die leeus se koms het jy amper nooit die buffels in die park gesien nie terwyl hulle nou weer algemeen in ooptes voorkom. 

Laaste, maar nie die minste nie is my gunsteling dier.  Die luiperd (Panthera pardus) was voorheen as bergtier of tier bekend en is 'n lid van die katfamilie. Luiperds is na tiers, leeus en jaguars die vierde grootste groot-kat met die poema volgende grootste.  Luiperds is nagdiere met 'n volwasse luiperd wat ongeveer 60 kg weeg en'n algemene hoogte van 60 cm bereik.  Die luiperds in die noorde van Suid Afrika word baie meer gereeld gesien as die in die Ooskaap en Weskaap.

Close encounters of the ellie kind

I have been visiting Addo Elephant National Park on a regular basis for over 13 years and at one stage went there quite often as a tourist guide.  Over the years I've had some of the most awesome sightings and experiences which is a bit hard to explain to somebody if they weren't there themselves.  About a week or so back I was in the park with an Argentinian journalist and had probably my most adrenalin pumping experience there ever.  We arrived at Hapoor water hole and found two of the park's big bulls just departing.

Driving around the corner the one walked passed in front of us while the bigger one of the two decided to stick around the road.  At one stage he passed so close to the bakkie in the picture that I actually commented that the driver probably aged a couple of years.

Moments later a herd appeared from the bush to our left which took up all our attention.  They crossed the road right behind us and as the last one passed the journalist asked if we could turn around and go back to the waterhole.  As I turned back in my seat to pull away the big bull was standing right in front of the car with his trunk draped over one tusk literally less than a meter from the car's bonnet.  There we were, eye balling the biggest land mammal in the world.  From experience I knew that we shouldn't make a sudden movement by pulling away as it may just cause him to do something that we would regret later, so we sat back in our seats to wait him out.  I did have my feet on the clutch and accelerator with the car in reverse if we had to make a quick retreat.  Unfortunately because of that I don't have any photos of this whole episode.  After a couple of minutes (could have been seconds as far as I know, but my heart was racing too fast to measure time) he just turned around and mozied off.  I have to say that although it may have been a little scary the experience was awesome.  Who needs to use drugs to be on a high if you can have natural experiences like this?

Elephant applying make-up

I often think that a lot of residents of Port Elizabeth doesn't realised what a fantastic game reserve they have in Addo Elephant National Park right on the city's doorstep.  Where else can you go in early in the morning and see an elephant powdering her face before the crowds arrive? Huh?  Jokes aside.  I visited the park again late last week and it's amazing the elephant and other game sightings one can have in the park.  There is really no reason to schlep all the way up to Kruger Park with what we have right on our doorstep.  I'm not saying don't go to Kruger, on the contrary.  But Addo offers residents and visitors to Port Elizabeth a stunning wildlife alternative to the big reserve up north.  

Just applying the last bit of make-up and she is ready for her audience.

Big bull elephant

A game drive anywhere in the Addo Elephant National Park, even if its in one of the concession areas and on the other side of the mountain, isn't complete without actually seeing an elephant.  So I was understandably getting a bit anxious when we were more than halfway though our morning game drive at Kuzuko and hadn't seen any yet.  But suddenly as if out of nowhere this big, well more like huge, bull made his appearance.

He appeared out of the bush and started ambling down the road towards us, not showing any sighs that he will divert from his coarse.  The ranger started backing away and reversed down a side path to allow him more than enough space to pass ahead of us. 

Not a thank you from him.  Not even a proper side way glance.  He just moseyed along.  But that's probably your right and privilege if you're his size.

Looking up

My favorite photo from my walk with elephants at Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve.  It would have been magnificent if he had looked at me and flapped his ears, but just being down on the ground looking up at him made for a great photo opportunity.

Ele closeups

Elephants may have eye lashes that some women may do anything to have...

... but I'm sure they would rather die than have an elephant's rough and wrinkled skin.

Both of these pics were taken on my walk with elephants at Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve during the Mini vs Maxi trip.

Elephant heads

Walking with the elephants at Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve on the Mini vs Maxi trip gave me the wonderful opportunity to get a number of photos of the elephants while being close to them and not needing to use any type of zoom. 

I could change the angle by taking a couple of steps left or right and didn't need to move a vehicle to do so.  I think I may have previously said that the experience was absolutely awesome.  If not, let me reiterate.  The experience was absolutely awesome.

Big butts

When I was editing my pictures from the Mini vs Maxi adventure I spotted this picture from our walk with the elephants at Inkwenkwezi and a certain song popped into my head.  There is a song by the rapper Sir Mixalot called Baby got back (I like big butts) which was used in the movie Shrek during the party dance song right at the end where Donkey sings it to Dragon (0:48 / 3:00).  Just thought I'll share the picture and the trivial information that goes along with you. *big smiley face*

Walking with elephants

Most people the world over may never get the opportunity to see an elephant in the wild and a much smaller number will have the chance to walk and interact with these giant creatures in their natural habitat.  Team Mini had the amazing opportunity to do just that at Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve outside East London on the recent Mini vs Maxi adventure.

I can go into lenghts about what it is like to walk step (on their part) by a couple of steps (on our part) with them, being able to put your hand on his body and feeling him draw a breath, standing face to face with them sensing their amazing intelligence or suddenly having one of them steal the cap off your head and putting it on their own.  But if I do this may just become a very long post.  

The Mini vs Maxi trip was literally made up of highlights with this experience being one of my favorites