Africa Wild

Day 19: Tembe Elephant Park

Lunch time at the waterhole

Like the day before, SO wanted to hang around in the camp for lunch and watch monkeys , so I was on my own again to spend some hours in the hide ellie watching. Ratzfatz the cooler box was reloaded, snacks, cold ones packed, hot coffee in the thermos and off I was -O

So far, I had not seen all of my big friends, except for iSilo and Rudi


Mahlasela is a comfortable hide to wait anf watch. There were some minor bulls busy with their stuff along with Nyala, Waterbuck, Wildebeest

Day 19: Tembe Elephant Park

Then another one of the older gentle bulls made his apperance out of the bush over there: uCici
















He is very pretty with the large curved tusks

Day 19: Tembe Elephant Park

More elephants came to drink and the waterhole was surrounded by bulls and more bulls but still no sign of my two favourite guys

Day 19: Tembe Elephant Park

And then I noticed another wellknown bull: Mabhudu



He stopped at the far side of the waterhole and watched the other bulls, then walked a bit back and forth.







with uCici



He has beautiful curved tusks





Great bulls' party at Mahlasela at lunchtime And I was again on my own

Day 19: Tembe Elephant Park

Meanwhile another bull had arrived on the other side: Siqualo, the future tusker of Tembe.











apparently very thirsty -O

Then he had some splashes







My favourite bull

Day 19: Tembe Elephant Park

uCici was still there, claiming the central territory of the pan taking some impressive poses in front of the hide.




Siqualo had already had several showers and thought now would be the time to bathe.








Mabhudu and his bull friend were watching the crowd rather uninterested.

Day 19: Tembe Elephant Park

A Heron flew over...



... and Siqualo had left the bath and was strolling along ... back and forth.











Finally he was back to his favourite drinking spot. -O



Shortely therafter, SO popped up and it was time to leave the waterhole and go for the afternoon drive .

Day 19: Tembe Elephant Park

We headed to the swamp area and met the lion pride again, but only a lioness was close enough for a photo




This Nuttie allowed a and flew off




A bachelor herd of Nyalas




And we went to the eastern side and found this pair of Reedbuck








A rhino crossed our path as well.




Sundowner

Scented thorn acacia!

Day 19: Tembe Elephant Park

A bushfire next to the swamp road - another opportunity to take sunset













And in the fading light this great shots of a Waterbuck and a Wildebeest





and to top it all, this Elephant bull running over the airfield in a hurry -O -O -O

End of Day 19: Tembe Elephant Park at Night



A truly spectacular day in the bush!