Whilst at White Elephant Safari Lodge we opted for more than a game drive on the one morning, deciding to go with the “Elephanting” activity offered instead.
“Elephanting” is an activity that allows a unique glimpse into the elephant society and their unobtrusive ways, teaching about the family structures and individual personalities. It was very interesting to visit the Elephant and Rhino Museum set up in the old trading store on the reserve. After being shown the various skulls and bones of elephants lost, and talking through the resident Pongola herds, we watched a very informative video before heading off with Haike and our guide Freedom for the “Elephanting” focussed game drive.
Elephant ownership and management really is a long term project as they live for 50-60 years, and there are many challenges facing elephants and their owners in today’s fenced world. White Elephant owner Dr Heinz Kohrs, is one of the founders of Space for Elephants, where he works towards the dream of migratory routes for elephants and explores cross frontier boundaries.
Learn more at www.space4elephants.org
Haike trying to pick up a signal from the herd, some members are collared in order to monitor their behaviour as studies are done.
Once the elephants are sighted, Haike logs the location and GPS co-ordinates and makes notes about their behaviour, what they are eating, their interaction with each other etc.
Elephanting is hard work and we took a break on the shores of Lake Jozini for some coffee and muffins, with the elephants a safe distance above us.
