Out on game drives, we often come across these majestic gentle creatures which are always a joy to see. We on Kapama are fortunate to have all age categories of elephants, including babies. After all, who does not enjoy the very playful young ones?
Under the watchful eye of mother, young elephants are free to do as they please, and they often give us a wonderful show. Young elephants still in the developing stage are very curious about the world and we always enjoy the way they interact with nature and each other. Young elephants under the age of three are still very dependent on their relatives. Young elephants are often found mimicking their elders and this is how they learn and build their own personalities’ overtime. The young are also very playful and won’t hesitate to charge the vehicle. Now, this is often found to be very amusing to guests and we as guides also enjoy it as we will always keep a safe distance. With knowledge of animal behaviour, we can tell if its playful behaviour or if it is from feeling pressured or threatened. The reason I’m pointing this out is if young elephants are feeling uncomfortable with the presence of a vehicle, they can often give out a cry of distress which will alert the bigger relatives, who will often rush in and try and defend the little one. This does not occur often if you keep your respective distance. Elephants will generally continue with their day as if you were not even there.