On yesterday’s  safari I headed first to Nyala dam as the breeding herd of Cape buffalo were believed to be there. On my arrival we found buffalo but also the breeding herd of elephants, one of them was rolling around in the mud near the inflow and the buffalo was peacefully lying in the shallow water. Also in attendance was a beautiful Saddle Billed stork,  a pair of yellow billed storks as well as Blacksmith plovers. The elephant that was rolling in the mud came past us completely covered in mud! Then he (a largish bull) went for a swim in the dam, but not before scattering some buffalo out of the water! Elephants can be very possessive of water supplies and sometimes other animals not giving way can be killed, especially in dry times when water is in short supply.

Sebastiaan Janse van Vuuren

Senior Ranger

Kapama Main Lodge