It is important to know proper etiquette when self driving among ellies. First you need to know that elephants love to eat and run,
and they love to cross roads.
They especially love eating and running whilst crossing roads.
But more than all these things combined, they love to block roads. What do you do when an elephant blocks the road?
You wait.
The worst thing of course is to inadvertently block the path of an irritable, lone bull elephant in musk, in pursuit of his disinterested, and fast disappearing, beloved.
What do you do when this happens?
Pray you can get the heck out of his way.
Elephants love to knock over trees, and they even love to try and knock over trees, they can’t knock over.
What do you do when this happens?
Watch, until the ellie gets really frustrated at the tree, and then get the heck out of his way.
The biggest tip to keep in mind when driving among wild ellies?
Do whatever the ellie wants you to do, cuz they really are so much bigger than you!
Cheers to you from South Africa’s intelligent, incredible, irreplaceable Pachyderms!
Nice Cindy, thank you.
Have a wonderful week Ranu!
These photos make me feel like I’m right there seeing the elephants along with you Cindy! You captured so much detail (e.g., their skin texture). The one with the elephant facing the viewer is my favorite. And yep, animals do have their own sense of personal space and we need to give them that.
Not sure if you heard about the recent tragic story about an American tourist (Game of Thrones special effects editor) getting mauled by a lioness out in South Africa recently… the lioness jumped right into the car through an open window. So sad. Please be safe out there Cindy! <3 ~Lynn
Yes, I did read about her and it is a horrible, tragic situation. She was in a lion breeding facility and tourist place, where the lions are enclosed and not free, and tourists drive through to see them in these up close enclosures. Her window was open when the lion approached directly next to her. I have seen a video of a lioness opening a car door when a tourist didn’t lock their door. So glad you like the facing ellie. I wasn’t sure about including that pic but it was part of the real story!
Cheers to you Lynn and hope all is well~
Yes, I encountered the video of the lioness opening the car door as well. It was very surprising in one way but, judging from how curious our own domestic cats are (boyfriend’s cat tried has been trying to turn the doorknob ever since seeing us open doors multiple times), I can see this happening. Despite wild cats and domestic cats being so different in size, they still exhibit similar behaviors!
My cat opened the door all the time. We would put him in the den. He promptly opened the door! 😉
Incredible photos – thank you!
Thank you more for appreciating them!
Wonderful beings!
There aren’t enough superlatives to describe them!
Yes, getting so close to him is already intimidating. I would wait and let he does things for sure.
It’s always best to remember the ellies are the boss! 😉
Your pictures captured this so well, that I felt intimidated by ..
They definitely command your complete respect and I happily gave it to them!
Splendid! Just splendid 🙂
They are magnificent! Thank you for appreciating them~
Wow, these are great captures, Cindy. You must be having such a wonderful time – Hope you keep staying on the ‘good’ side of the ellies! 😉
We got charged once on our prior trip, not when we were driving because we are very respectful of the ellies, but when a ranger was, and he purposely antagonized the ellie. Not something we wanted to repeat!
Why on earth would the ranger do that? He must have been crazy with a death wish!
He had some mental problems. Most rangers are wonderful people.
Amazing!
They are just astonishing up close in the wild!
These are stunning captures of ellies. Sounds like lots of waiting. 🙂 I can’t imagine what is like to be there and see what you saw. So in awe. Thank you for the post, Cindy. <3
Thank you more for the kind appreciation Amy. We have gotten delayed and up close and personal with all sorts of pachyderms, rhino, huge herds of cape buffalo, hippos. It is like nothing else in the world~ <3
A lovely post which I enjoyed very much. I love elephants.
That makes two of us! Thank you~
Wonderful pictures!
Mil grazi!
Oh, and the same applies if you block the way between mother and child, even an adult one: get the heck out of there. Says someone with a few last minute escapes 🙂 Gorgeous photos, Cindy!
Yes! We got in between a mother hippo and her baby on land. I have never seen two more terrified animals and mama was seriously dangerous. Lions take advantage of these situations.
Incredible shots, Cindy. Powerful and enormous animals. I believe they are in charge of the ball field and they win automatically. I’m glad you are playing it safe. I take it you are doing your own driving. 🐘🐘🐘
I am amazed at your ellie icons!!! Love them! And you are right. They are basically in charge of everything as far as I am concerned!
Great pics, again. With tusks that size on ellies that size I would clear out of their way in a hurry. 🙂
Yep, there is not much point in arguing! 😉
Nicely done Cindy. Indeed.
Regards
Thank you very much & cheers~
All sounds like solid advice to me, excellent images!
Solid advice for very solid critters! 😉
Wonderful Elephant photos Cindy! Yes I agree they deserve a lot of respect! They can squish us like a bug! tee hee! Hugz Lisa and Bear
They can and wonderful that they don’t! I was just reading the extensive history of dolphins rescuing humans in trouble in the sea and yet humans butcher them with nets and round ups. Elephants are the same. Kinder than many people!
I wished man kind didn’t do such horrible things to beautiful creatures!!
Yes. Me too~
Nice!
Merci!
I love the close-ups, of course, but that final shot is so lovely, so poetic. I think I love elephants.
They actually love you back. Did you read, “The Elephant Whisperer?” I highly recommend it if you love elephants~
Nice photos. Whatever you do – – – don’t try to tickle the ivories!
Oh, I hadn’t thought of that! 😉
Marvelous! ʕ(⊙‿⊙)ʔ
Merci beaucoup mon ami!
De rien!
<3
They have an expression of such dignity. I would find quite amazing to witness so many elephants crossing the river. Thanks Cindy, elephants are among my dearest animals.
They are so full of dignity. You are quite right about this and about the thrill in seeing them in large herds crossing the rivers!
Reblogged this on Sherlockian's Blog.
Awww, thank you so much for supporting the so deserving elephants!
Impressive photos, Cindy. I love these! Elephants are so awesome. btw, I’ve never seen an elephant, except for at the zoo, so I’m glad you’ve shared these.
They are so impressive in the wild. All these large matriarch led herds and lone bulls. Just such impressive creatures. So happy you appreciated them Lori!
These elephants are phenomenal and your trip must be one for the record books. Thanks for taking us all along with you on this wild ride.
peace, Linda
Peace to you Linda and thank you more for coming along with me. It makes the experience so much richer to share it with people like you.
Awww cute post and lovely pics as always 😍 enjoying seeing your south african adventures! 😀😎
It is a place just built for daily adventure, for all creatures, great & small~
That is so cool! Any Hyena or Lions seen?
Yes, to both. Multiple sightings. A very unusual sighting of hyenas mating at night that I got photos of. And a leopard sleeping on a tree! All the big five and so much more!
Cheetahs oh my!
Love the photos…. now if only more tourist understood the ellie rules we would not see them being shot because of ignorance of the driver. … you’ve got some great shots
Exactly! I saw some evidence of this ignorance and the results are just as you say. We wittnessed this first hand on our first trip~
Wouldn’t dream of arguing with one or crossing the path of another 😀
Smart woman! <3
I’ll keep all this in mind for when we go to Africa 🙂
Beautiful photos as usual. I especially love the final 2 of the whole herd.
Alison
I love the herd views. I have lots more of them of course. Views of huge numbers of them coming single file to the river and lining up like dominos along the bank to drink~
Wonderful pictures Cindy! I do love elephants – at least I love seeing them and learning about them. Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you more for loving ellies Dor!
Amazing! What an opportunity to see them so close – they are beautiful.
Thank you, they are beautiful, peaceful and mighty! We need them on our planet~
You are taking us on quite an adventure, Cindy! Thank you 😀
I am just very happy that you are coming along!
Cindy, it must have been an awesome experience , to see elephants in the wild. They are so beautiful. Hugs! Veraiconica
Hugs back to you my friend and yes it was especially fun to drive up to Oliphants and live surrounded by all these herds who come daily to the river to drink~
Amazing captures and good advice! Doi whatever the elephant wants. 🙂
Yep, that seemed the only possiblity to me! 🙂
Great pictures. It does look like you had a good time. You’re very lucky to find elephants roaming wild in London. I’ve been looking for years, I’ve only found the pink ones. 😀
Cracking up……..You just have to look very carefully in St. James Park!
I’ve had a squirrel climb my leg in St James’s. I hope they don’t teach the elephants.
You are constantly cracking me up Graham…….tThat would be quite a predicament. Maybe you should carry a mouse with you at all times. Heffelumps (not woozles) are scared to death of meeses! 😉 A blogger reminded me of this……
This is great and I love coming here because i see and learn about things I would into see elsewhere.
Great shots and thanks for sharing.
This was our second trip to Africa. You would not believe how many how to manuals and you tube videos my husband and I watched before the first trip to learn how to drive safely among ellies, rhinos and cape buffalo!
Schöne Fotos. Wolfgang
Guten Tag Wolfgang und vielen dank mein Freund~
Reblogged this on Art, animals, and the earth.
Thank you so much for your advocacy Sharon for all creatures great & small!
Just amazing photos Cindy I had to chuckle as I read your very good advice. Where you ever threatened?
Never on this trip by anything except a male baboon that chased me away. On our first trip though we were charged by an elephant. This happened when were on one our few game drives with a ranger who was a problematic person. (Most rangers are wonderful people.) This ranger drove his rover right up to a raging solo bull in musk and antagonized him by inching closer and closer despite the ellie’s increasing fury. Finally the ellie charged. The ranger tried to outrun him on the dirt road but the road ended so he pulled the rover around, made us jump out and cocked his rifle and aimed at the ellie. The ellie had a healed bullet hole in his ear. He saw the rifle, pulled up to a stop, and wheeled around and walked away. I need to emphasize this incident was entirely the ranger’s fault. He ignored every sign the ellie gave us to leave him in peace. I was really terrified he was going to shoot the elephant and I doubt I could have tolerated it.
I will never forget two things about this incident, the way the ellie’s ears stood out and flapped as he charged at us, and the way my son’s face looked while it was happening. He looked full of wonder at the amazing elephant. They are such amazing creatures.
.
That was an amazing and terrifying experience Cindy, and one you will never forget. What a stupid man that ranger was. I hope he was dismissed from service. Thank goodness the elephant stopped it would’ve been so sad if it had been shot.
It would have been unbelieveably traumatizing and senseless~
Your blog posts always makes me smile. Hope you are doing great my friend. Love, Isabella
Awww, so glad! I am home now and already missing Africa~
🙂 I hope you have had a wonderful trip.
It was fabulous!! Thanks….
Great photos Cindy! Best time of year to be in the park (and September /October) – as the bush grass is not as high as in summer, so you can see lots!
So glad you are enjoying the trip here!
Are you going to the coast or the mountains too?
Yes, this was our second trip, both at this time of year. The other benefit is that in May the park is not full of tourists and you have many places to yourself with the critters. We are home now, but were there for three weeks. We stayed in and then around the park as we come mostly for the animals and the incredible scenery. We missed Blyde Canyon and have never been to Cape Town or the coast. We wanted to go to Mauritis, but we had been traveling for six weeks and it was time to come home.
Sounds like you had a great trip, Cindy! Yep, can understand six weeks away and home calls! 🙂
It does, but I already miss Africa!
Gosh, impressive images and strong words, Cindy! They are gentle animals, it must be great feeling to see them in their nature and protected habitat 🙂
They are peaceable and gentle creatures if you respect them, and it is wonderful to be around them, especially father north in the park up by the Oliphants River where they congregate in great herds.
Excellent… 🙂
Thank you my friend~
Just a thought – if you’re going back to O.R. Tambo airport, you will be passing pretty close to us (we’re in Centurion). If you have any time available, we could meet up? Be great to meet you. My email :robmcshane7@gmail.com (can give you more details there!).
Oh my gosh, I wish I got this earlier, before we just left. I would so love to meet a South African blogger, mostly because I want to absorb your knowledge of this incredible place. As soon as I leave, I already miss it, and think about coming back~
Great! We’ll see you on your next trip, yes? ! Open invitation – anytime. We would love to meet you! 🙂 with all its problems it really is a fantastic country – with so much potential for an exciting future!
Fantastic animals! And once again beautiful photos.
Awwww, thank you & cheers too~
Quel beau reportage ! Merci pour le partage !
Merci beaucoup pour votre type appreciation! <3
Fascinating ! Thank you for sharing your great photos !
Thank you more for appreciating them!
Brilliant shots as usual Cindy.
Awwww, thanks so much & cheers to you Ronnie~
Simply WOW images. What close-ups … but the last two of the group in the water were heart warming.
Yes I have some other shots of them from a distance that I will post in the future. This was from the porch of our rondavel looking down over the Olifants River. Huge herds would come out of the bush, often in single file and line up like dominos to drink. Often they would cross the river as you see now. Giraffe, Cape Buffalo, Zebra, everything came to the river to drink and seeing this for several days was a highlight of my life.
Truly fascinating … and I’m sure a wonderful trip!
So much better sharing it with friends like you!
¡Qué belleza! Me encantan estos animales tan inteligentes. Pero es natural cederles el paso porque también tienen mal genio cuando se enfadan. 😉
No son simplemente increíble! Tienes razon. Ellos deben ser tratados con respeto. Gracias a mi amiga por la comprension! <3
Such terrific photography. My heart would have been thumping to be this close to these big guys. And to see one knock over a tree? Spectacular!!
Awwwww, thank you! They love knocking over trees and I loved watching this one try and try!!
Wow wow wow Cindy! I can only imagine flying over them and then being up close and personal. What an amazing trip … and photos!
Makes the experience twice as nice to share it with kind friends like you! Thank you~
Wonderful post Cindy, I’m happy that you followed your own advices and survived 😀
Elephants are very beautiful animals and they should have each their own personality.
You could see some of this personality differentiation in the herd behavior. There were the more placid ones, and the ones that were more the protectors. You would have to live among them though to really get to know them individually. Amazing creatures~
Elephants are intelligent animals and I believe they are individualists. Beautiful experiences you get Cindy 😀
Yes, I think you are correct~
Oh seeing free, wild elephants in your pictures brings so much joy into my heart. Amazing animals.
Your comment brought joy into mine! Thank you~
How wonderful to see the cows and babies. They are very protective of their young and usually keep them away from people. Those lone (lonely) bulls are a threat. You have to see them up close, as you did, to realize that they are much larger than your vehicle. We diverted our drive a few times to keep a safe distance from bulls until they disappeared into the brush.
Oscar
That is the smart way to approach them, with lots of respect for their space. We saw the babies nursing, and the ellies sleeping, resting up against each other in a knot. Wonderful!
WoW …beautiful captures Cindy…:-)
From you that is a big compliment my friend. Thank you!
What a fantastic post Cindy – the male was totally frustrated, wow and takes it out on the nearest tall thing. Incredible close-up photographs of these wonderful animals – your wait was well worth it.
Sharing with you Mary makes the trip a richer experience! Thank you~
Your trips Cindy are always fascinating, different and memorable for us viewers. This one is a favorite of mine.
Awwww, you are a good friend Mary!
Woooowwww Beautiful Pictures, thank you very much Cindy….💗💗💗
Thank you more for appreciating them!
Beautiful photos enhanced with a fun story lesson in ellie etiquette! 🙂 Thanks Cindy.
I bet Ellie Etiquette is one class you never took!! 😉
LOL, nope!
Cindy, I so love these elephant photos!! I know they’re BIG creatures, but their faces look so happy that it hurts me to think of anyone harming them.
Yes, this feeling becomes overhwhelming when you are around these creatures and you see how trusting they are, how peaceful towards humans, and protective of each other. Killing any of these wild creatures for fun is obscene to me.
thanks for sharing photos of these magnificent creatures 🙂
Thank you for appreciating them!
Made me smile.Lovely pictures. 🙂
Your comment made me smile!
Sound advice! Love the photos, they are such incredible creatures.
They are indeed!
LOL! So true about doing whatever the elephants want you to do because they’re so much bigger. You really captured their moods here. I love drawing stylized elephants and looking at your photos gives me a good sense of their movements!
Oh I can’t wait to see what you come up with! I love your animals!
Thanks, Cindy! I should write a 12 word story for an elephant illustration I already have so you can see it. 🙂
Looking forward to it!
I never thought much about elephants crossing roads but then I have never been to Africa, Very wise advice to go along with excellent photos!
It won’t come in too handy at the beach though, unless a bunch of elephants were to escape from the zoo! 😉
They are such gentle giants — unless you get in their way! 😆 Great advice to get along with these gorgeous creatures! <3
You, I know, would love them Linda! <3
Wonder how one would get on with my cats and dogs! LOL
I think there would be a new alpha critter at your house! 😉
AnElephantCant tell you how much he loves this
Other pachyderms are his absolute fave
He gives you this advice
Unless you are mice*
When you see an angry charging heffelump don’t try to be brave
*He is scared of meeces!
Yes, this is excellent advice! If only I had known this before I went! I am home now. I would have brought a couple meeces to scare the heeflelumps, only in an emergency of course! 😉 <3
AnElephant loves smiley faces, hearts, and Cindy.
But not necessarily in that order.
Hugs.
I never knew elephants had such excellent taste! 😉 😉
Elephants, one of the most interesting creatures for their intelligence and their “ways”. Thanks again for beautiful photographs…and thank you for taking time to stop by my site. ~Ron
Visa versa 2 U X 2 Ronald!
What a magical experience!
I must admit it is a magical place which is why I have flown 22 hours each way twice to visit!
I am loving your posts!!
I am loving sharing them with you!
Great sequence. When driving in Africa be prepared when approaching others on the road. Remember visual cues, some of them will have the exhaust in the back, but the trunk is in the front.
Confronting large animals in the African wild always reminds me of the African lion Safari here in Ontario. A number of years ago a couple of young fellows drove through with their small car. They encountered a rhino. They waited for it to cross the road and meander off. Instead it came up to the vehicle and started nuzzling it. Apparently the sound of the engine resembled a romantic rhino. The guys made it out okay. The car had an experience of a lifetime. 😀
Cracking up……I will definitely remember these helpful tips! Thank you~
Liebe Cindy das sind ja Traumhafte Elefantenfotos wunderschön einfach spitze danke für diese Fotos einen schönen Dienstag in Freundschaft Klaus
Ich bin so froh Sie die Elefanten Klaus mmgen. Vielen, vielen Dank mein Freund und haben eine wundervolle Woche!
Simply magnificent!
Awwww, so pleased you like them!
no worries, you know i always do 🙂
das ist ja schön, diese Bilder, liebe Cindy, liebe Grüße, Klaus
GruBe an Sie zuruck mein Freund und ich danke Ihnen sehr!
Hi Cuz
This sounds kinda like driving downtown! The biggest difference is that the downtown elephants have smaller brains and can’t remember anything! Beautiful pics and it’s obvious that you’re enjoying yourself. Hugs. 🙂
Laughing, yes I find the elephants IQ and general deportment to exceed that of some humans I have seen, thinking of reality TV when I said this, but I am sure there are many more examples! 😉
Elephants must be giving drivers lessons to N Texas drivers “-P Great pictures!
Laughing! I wish they could! 😉
Wonderful pictures…
So very pleased that you enjoyed them!
Elephants are my favourite wild animals and you have captured them beautifully <3
So glad and cheers to you!
Great pictures. How exciting!
Yep, exciting summarizes a trip to Africa perfectly!
I sense there is a ‘get the heck out of the way’ theme going on here. What can I say? I’m sensitive to these sorts of things.
Laughing, you are! I am amazed you picked this up! 😉
Outstanding, Cindy!
Awww, thanks much my friend~
Love these noble animals. Thank you for sharing!
Mil grazi~
Enjoyed those pics Cindy, and the running commentary was very informative, and a must read for everyone who enters their realm, woe betide those who encounter a rogue Elephant.
Regards.
We did on our first trip. It was quite an experience!
This has a Dr. Seuss vibe. 😉
Awwww, I jumped over his fence once when I was a kid in hopes he would come out with Horton. He lived nearby. Alas, he did not, and neither did Horton. Sigh……
LOL – You tried.
Still a huge disappointment! 😉
Majestic…amazing clicks!….
I am honored! Thank you~
It is amazing to see so many healthy, happy elephants!
We who live in Sumatra Island are working together with the government to protect the Sumatran Elephant against the paid killers.
Sadly, they are not even killed for their ivory.
Many plant owners hire these killers to get rid of these poor animals so that they would not ruin their plants. I guess they have forgotten that they were the ones who tore up the jungle and turned it into farms!
It is depressing and sad isn’t Hari, to contemplate how cruel and harmful some humans can be. When I was a kid, my best friend’s father who was a Presbytarian minister, had elephant foot trash cans in his home. He shot an elephant in Luanda for fun and then named his daughter Luanda after the experience. I simply couldn’t understand this, even back then. I guess he hadn’t read, “All creatures great and small…….”
“They especially love eating and running whilst crossing roads.” 🙂 Made me smile! I really enjoyed your post.
They are multi-taskers who put human multi-taskers to shame! Plus they can remove tree stumps in one little push! 😉
Love this!
Glad you do & thanks!
I had no idea they’re that annoying 😂 but they are still lovable .
Oh, not annoying, charming as can be! I was just being humorous, or trying too!
Oh 😄
I enjoy watching elephants when they walk side by side, with their trunks swinging. I also like how they treat each other like family, the babies are mothered and taken care of, Cindy.
Sometimes they seem to do a better job of things than many humans don’t they! Cheers to you Robin and be well my friend~
They are such a beautiful species. I love them.
I love them too!
Did you see them walking in a line linked tail to trunk? That was one of my favourite safari sights.
I do have photos of them walking single file in a large herd to the river. The babies trunks often touch the adult in front, and then they lined up like dominos along the water front. Just a captivating sight. Sometimes there were about 100 elephant at the river!
Wonderful!
Marvelous to see them thriving!
lesson learned…..don´t get close to these guys when they are trying to knock down trees, what type of past time do these have?
They eat….alot! 😉
I just love your commentary to go with those awesome photos!
You are a wonderful friend Sarah! Thank you~
Thank you for sharing these amazing photo’s.
Thank you more for appreciating them!
Praying they do not go extinct. These are treasures for sure and deserve to live without cages.
Yes, I share the same prayer and hope!
Superb photos of these amazing animals.
Aren’t they just magnificent! So intelligent and so gentle…..
Fantastic photos and perfect advice. They’re such big creatures, they need a lot of space…and…they rule! 🙂
They definitely should rule! Such sensible creatures….. 😉
What a gorgeous creature!
Aren’t they awesome!
I love that you’re still able to see them in their natural habitat. I hate that they are hunted for the profit of criminals. Wonderful that you are there to see them live a free life! They’re beautiful. xK
They are magnificent and you are right, it is wonderful to see them free!
Personally, I love Elephants & once I sat on top of one in a park & it was fun !! Childhood memories came rushing 🙂
Yes, I rode an elephant once too, but I must saw, it is so much better to see them free and happy! Thanks for stopping by~
Yes it is indeed !! Welcome Cindy 🙂
I never thought I would see an elephant penis. Great shots of the beautiful creatures. <3
Laughing, I was hesistant about posting it. But, it is nature and part of what was happening. Plus, I figured this was something not everyone has seen~
lol At least it is checked off my list. Oops that informs that it was on my list.
He he he 😉
Laughing,,,,,, good for you, you have an enquiring mind! 😉
Tom asked me if you had posted anything about elephants yet so will be forwarding this blog to him. Actually, he gets more of your blogs than any other blogger I send him. Tom doesn’t blog but now that he’s feeling better, he’s reading more and keeping up with more information.
Oh how wonderful. This makes blogging so worthwhile for me. Tell Tom if I have another elephant to post, I will dedicate it to him, and give him my very best wishes to keep feeling better! Abrazos mi amiga~ <3 <3
I love elephants, such gentle giants.
They are so wonderful. So intelligent and impressive!
Probably a bit cheeky to describe this as my favourite post of yours, seeing as I’ve just discovered your site, but these pics are so cute. Love the descriptions too.
Awwww, so kind and very appreciated too! Cheers to you~
Wonderful post 🙂
Possibly not too handy though, unless you are planning to drive amongst wild ellies!
Wow, impressive images 🙂
The elephants deserve the credit for this! They are quite impressive creatures~
Reblogged this on A Few of My Favorite Things… and commented:
We love elephants and your photos and comments here are wonderful!
Just beautiful photos. Great piece. ☺ Van
Awwwww, so kind, thank you!
Wow, tolles Foto.
Vielen danke!
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