We drive to Addo Elephant Park. Marc has been there before. It is a drive yourself sort of safari. We were handed a map of the park, but on the other side of the map, it has pictures, names and checkboxes of the wildlife they have there–everything from dung beetles to elephants.

Welcome To Addo!

What A Great Day

Lots To See

On entry we see a herd of elephants, having a drink. It is from a viewing station and everyone standing around, snapping their cameras as quickly as their shutters with allow. We climb back in the car and start to creep around the different paths. We see everything small–from various birds to mongoose. Wart hogs are everywhere. Zebras are everywhere. Where the hell are the elephants? We came for elephants. We want to see elephants!

Bird With Long Beak

Meerkat

Yellow Mongoose

Warthog

Ostrich On The Road

Our wildlife checkboxes are quickly filling up, but still, no elephants. We are a little disheartened. We finally spot a small herd. Our view is a little obstructed, but we are happy as clams watching these wild, massive beasts roam and graze freely. It is a far cry from the other elephants we have seen so far. Don’t even get me started about India. India wins the award for officially being the worst country in regard to their treatment of elephants. They still use them for logging?

First Elephant Sighting

Turn Around, Please

Some cars stop, have a look, but are quick to drive on. Marc and I don’t move. We are in awe. We wait. We watch. Finally we decide to keep exploring the park and low and behold, a lone elephant comes out from the bush. We stop the car and can’t believe it. The elephant walks up the road, right toward us, gives up an unimpressed glance as he goes to meet up with his friends that we had just been admiring. A few meters in, this beast could no longer be seen. We were shocked–not to mention thrilled. Another one of my life’s great moments.

Here Comes Big Guy

Minding His Own Business

Checking Us Out

Hello Mister

Off He Goes

We continued driving and saw a group of cars stopped. We knew there was something good. What? How about a family of elephants having a drink and a bath at the waterhole. There is a baby. It is so fantastic. I am giddy. Once they have finished getting their drink on, they turn around, cross the road and head back into the plains. All but one young elephant. Surprise, surprise, the teenager didn’t go with them. He is officially not done.

Family At Water Hole

Baby Elephant…

…Leaving With Her Mom

The group of cars dispersed, but we were still basking in the afterglow and next thing we knew, another family, with another baby came out of the bush, into the clearing, to have a drink. The new mama kicked out the teenager (who rejoined his family) and proceeded to drink and bathe freely at the watering hole.

Here Comes The Next Family

Teenager Pushed Aside By Next Group

Elephants Go First

I don’t think happy begins to describe it.

Female Kudu

Male Kudu

More Kudus In The Wild

Black-backed Jackal