Game drive 18/01 Rhino and Elephant

#GVIfans

The morning was nice and clear not told cold today we saw rhino yippee, I hadn't seen them yet. It was a mother and her calf with another rhino. The rhinos get dehorned every couple of years to hope of deterring poachers. The mother we saw has had two calves when they have the 2nd one they push the older one away so they can give the younger one their full attention. Her first calf has been stubborn and does not want to leave mum she had to physically push it away. 

The mother had a terrible cut just under her horn that was weeping. We are unsure at this stage how she got it so Zoe took a video and sent it off to the vet. The rhino looked happy otherwise and were enjoying a good scratch off a flakey bark thorn, these thorns are about 1 inch in length and quite sharp and solid or at least they are for us. The rhinos looked like they were enjoying themselves. We stopped for phuza at pride rock which looks over a section of the reserve, there we spotted some nice flame lilies, depending upon their life cycle stage they vary from yellow -> orange -> red.

 Elephants:- https://youtu.be/Fe8snhKPPXY

In the afternoon we went on drive with Heather and Adam we were focusing on tracks and trees as it was quite warm and the wildlife seemed to be napping. We looked up to see elephant ahead, we have yet to see them on the reserve as we have only been here 1 week. So we stated the car and slowly follow them they head into the bush to our right and disappear from view. So we head on at the next block we turn right towards the reeds. After heading down the strip about 500m someone thinks they see they elephants so we stop the car and prop. Not too long later we see them through the trees as shadows I can only see the shape of their backs. We wait as if they continue on the same path they will cross about 500m ahead of us on the road. So we are patient we can just see them having a great time in the reeds. We can see their ears flapping to help regulate their body temp and hear the vocals between the herd as they enjoy a good feed. We spot two elephants starting to cross so we wait and get ready to film them. We are all just sitting quietly in anticipation. Gradually they all start to cross the road we are at a safe distance away so they can see us and not feel threatened. It’s a peaceful scene and enthralling to watch. One elephant then looks towards us and holds out there ears to show us they know we are there. It then starts walking towards us and lifting its trunk up. Adam starts to gradually reverse as we have a carload we are not in danger as the ele's are not trumpeting. We get nearly to the top of the ridge and hear a rustle behind us. There standing in the shrubs to the right of us is the matriarch with her ears out and trunk raised. So, we just umm paused until the two ele's relaxed once again. We were not in any danger as they were not trumpeting but just letting us no whose boss. It was a thrilling experience that I wish I could be part of again, I was in awe of their size and magnificence. We once again had a story to tell at dinner.