Our trip to Tanzania included a few rare sightings, and this one was something even our tour guide was taking photos of.
Like our encounter with the leopard, it’s relatively rare to see elephants playing in the wild.
Even if you’ve seen these animals in zoos – I grew up in San Diego, which has one of the best zoos in the country, and I spent a lot of time there as a kid – it’s nothing like seeing them in their natural habitat, free and unfettered.
Our first stop on safari was at Tarangire National Park. I know I’m extremely sensitive, but seeing these creatures safe from poaching, human development, and all the messes we make, I was pretty much teary the entire time. (I know! It’s ridiculous, but I can’t help it.)
It also had me thinking about ecosystems, and how beautiful they are when they’re undisturbed. (Well, mostly. I suppose Land Rovers aren’t historically part of the natural habitat, but let’s overlook that for the moment.)
All these animals have to be concerned with is eating, sleeping, making little animals, and, oh yeah, avoiding all the murderous lions, leopards, and hyenas. Ha ha!
I’ll talk about the massive animal migration in an upcoming blog post and give you some stats about what these animals have to go through every year. Calling it an ordeal is an understatement. But onto something truly delightful: elephants at play in a pond on a hot day.
This is before the bath, obviously.
That’s an acacia tree in the background – they’re everywhere in Tarangire and the Serengeti. Hungry elephants keep them pruned that way, like giant bonsai.
Going in to join his friends.
They could not get enough tussling.
“Up periscope!”
“Don’t forget to wash behind your ears.”
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Lovely and fun.
So glad you think so, Rob. 🙂
thank you for sharing these lovely photos – enjoy all you post…..
Thanks for the kind words, Oksana! It’s my pleasure to share. 🙂
I absolutely love your photos. Elephants make my heart melt and sing!
I’m so envious of your trip.
Thank you for sharing.
Sabrina – Thanks so much! They are wonderful creatures, aren’t they? It was an incredible experience to be out there with them. The pleasure was and is all mine. 🙂
Makes my heart happy!
Sherry – I know exactly what you mean. 🙂
Omg yes to see happy elephants playing together is such a calming relief
After seeing something in a mag yesterday
They give me peace
And and the hippos~ was that one really BLUE or did the light just catch it that way? And oh to see that beautiful crane with its wings in spectacular movement~ YOU ARE THE BEST PHOTOGRAPHER~So sensitive, intimate, fun….
and the magnificent trees
Hooray for AFRICA!!!!
Love ya £¥NDA
Lynda – It was peaceful to see them, that’s exactly right. All the animals – safe and wild. The hippo’s blue tint is probably because of water on the body and the light. He/she was really more of a dark gray. And thank you for the very kind words, they made my day. 🙂 Hooray for Africa, indeed!