Take a walk on the wild side…

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"My roommate got a pet elephant. Then it got lost. It's in the apartment somewhere". Steven Wright

 

 

 

 

A female Golden-Orb spider, just one of many that we walked past, under and sometimes even through having been focussed on something else at the time.

And if you are wondering about the strength of the web silk, this particular female had caught a dung beetle in her web. Not an easy task, given that a dung beetle is not the normal prey of choice

Did you know?

The web silk can be used to make fishing lures, traps, nets, bird snares and is medicinally used to stop bleeding.

Although they look may ferocious, their venom is harmless to man

Webs are not dismantled and, unless destroyed by humans or large game species, can last for several years.

 

 

 

This large elephant decided that the group of students that I was walking with deserved a closer look. However, with verbal encouragement from the trails guides we were with, they dissuaded him from getting any closer than this.

This‘ being about 30m and more than close enough as far as the group was concerned.

 

 

 

Even though he turned away from us, his tail, held in this position, was a giveaway as to his level of awareness about a possible situation and closer encounter…

While he decided what he was going to do, the group stood quietly so as not to influence the decision that the elephant was about to make.

Given the distance between us and the fact that they can run at up to 40kph, if he HAD chosen to charge(or even mock charge) he would have closed the gap between us with surprising speed given his size. But, that did not occur. And he continued to eat as we walked away from the encounter.

 

 

 

And all the while these Cattle Egrets continued as if nothing was happening!

 

 

 

But that first elephant turned out to be the least of our problems.

As our group turned to leave, this one appeared via the path that we were just about to head back to the college on.

 

 

 

Thankfully, under the trained eye and calm presence of not one, but two field guides, no one was hurt during the photography for this post.

 

 

 

Even with water only a few meters away, this elephant was extremely cautious about proceeding there while we were standing relatively close by.

It seems that many animals have mastered the art of delayed satisfaction when it comes to either food or water. We humans are not so adept at that and believe in instant gratification at whatever cost.

 

 

 

Trunk up to assess the threat level that we posed.

 

 

 

I see you…

 

 

 

And it was not just one elephant that came out of the bush. It was a breeding herd of 13 individuals that trundled silently past us to make their way to the water.

At this point, the herd was between 40-60m from where we were standing. Certainly the closest I have been to a breeding herd. I have been less than 10m from a lone bull, but this was an entirely new experience.

Can an elephant walk and chew grass at the same time? Judging by this photograph the answer to that question is a resounding ‘Yes’.

 

 

 

Seeing that there were some youngsters in the herd, the adult females were on high alert and continuously kept an eye on us.

 

 

 

Objective reached…A quick drink and, fortunately for us, they decided to exit to the far side of the dams. Thus leaving the way clear for us to use the path that they had been on earlier.

 

 

 

These two large bulls played rearguard and made certain that we left and that the herd was safe before following them and leaving our group breathing a sigh of relief as well as a feeling of gratitude for having been able to safely spend time with the largest land mammal on the planet.

 

 

 

From spiders to elephants and back to the small stuff again.

I have often crossed paths with Shongololos, but I have never found them perched in the vegetation!

Shongololo is the colloquial name for the giant African millipede.

It is the largest species of millipede and can grow up to 33.5cm in length and 67mm in circumference.

Millipedes are seen are symbols of good luck, energy, and healing.

Thanks to Francois and Darryn for keeping calm and collected and for enabling us to come away with awesome memories.

And thanks to the students, both local and international who welcomed me into their group and made me feel at home.

 

 

 

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