My close encounter with an elephant in South Africa

Arriving back at Naledi Game Lodge in South Africa for my third time, I had only one wish — to be surrounded by elephants and have an memorable and of course ethical elephant encounter. I was yearning to have more time with my favourite animal, observing it in its natural habitat.

I had already gone on the morning game drive and decided to spend 3 hours at a hide. I was finishing breakfast when I noticed an elephant on the television screen mounted on the wall. I soon realized that it was the webcam feed from the hide I was planning to visit.

The bull elephant was still at the waterhole when we arrived. After an okay from Sipho, a tracker at Naledi, I quickly moved from the game drive vehicle, up the stairs to the hide. The elephant was on the other side of the hide, off-camera.

All of a sudden, he emitted a rumbling sound. Sipho explained that he was communicating. Sure enough, three more male elephants came by for a drink. One by one they arrived at the waterhole and went to the far side of the waterhole.

Then an elephant that Sipho called “Flopsy” (because of his floppy right ear) was the last of the five elephants to appear. He passed by in front of the hide and nodded his head as if to say hello and joined the others for a drink. They hung around for about 45 minutes. I couldn’t believe all the time I had with them, alone, as Sipho had left just after Flopsy arrived.

The next day while on a game drive, Mike (guide) heard breaking branches and followed the sound into the bush. We came upon 12-13 male elephants. I immediately thought some of the elephants were from the day before.

While we were watching the elephants in front of us, we suddenly heard branches breaking behind us. After a few minutes, an elephant came out from behind the tree and continued to eat nearby. It was Flopsy.

He was so close to the vehicle that I switched to my iPhone to get a few shots and record video. I giggled because I couldn’t believe how close he was and that I had to use my iPhone.

The Hide at Naledi Game Lodge.
Sipho, a tracker at Naledi Game Lodge, South Africa after dropping me off at the hide.
The bull elephant that rumbled
The bull elephant that was at the hide when I arrived
The three elephants that arrived after the bull elephant made a rumbling sound.
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3 African elephants at a waterhole
Three wild African elephants at a waterhole, including “Flopsy”. My view from the hide above the waterhole.
elephants in South Africa

My guide Mike taking a photo of the elephants with his smartphone

Then, this happened.

I was alone in the back of the game drive vehicle that day, and our vehicle had the sighting to ourselves. The only way to describe this 2-day experience is, magical.

I have always believed that elephants were magical. Now I know it’s true. Thanks to the expert guiding of Mike and the fantastic tracking of Sipho, this experience will long live in my heart. I was calm and felt safe.

More –

elephant walking down the road
We left the elephant sighting and found that one of the males had gone for a walk. Another Naledi Game Lodge vehicle is pictured.
  • Naledi Game Lodges – a luxury, family-friendly and relatively affordable lodge in the Greater Kruger area.
  • Africam – web cameras that stream 24 hours a day, three are located at Naledi Game Lodge.
  • Safari Live – For live streaming game drives from South Africa, check out Wild Earth’s Safari Live. It’s as if you’re in the back of the vehicle on a 3-hour drive, searching for wildlife. The drives are twice a day.
  • If you love elephants don’t ever ride them, ride in a game drive vehicle instead. Read this –  https://www.thedodo.com/elephant-rides-trek-1132645600.html

For ethical elephant encounters in Thailand, visit Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand.