Baby Amarula Elephant

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On our 25th Wedding Anniversary, we were lucky to visit the famous Timbavati Game Reserve in the South African bushveld. Going on private game drives, with a qualified ranger, is a daily occurrence and most times, they take us up close to the largest living land creatures - the Elephants. On the morning in question, we were awoken at 05h00 and taken to the main Lapa (patio) where full roast coffee was served with homemade rusks preparing us for a long 3-hour drive - something most South Africans do on any given day, but today we were in the Bushveld, in the wild and the air was clean and fresh. Our game lodge was a 5***** venue and nothing was spared. I had taken the complimentary hand cream that was left on our bed and put it in my small satchel to take along on the drive for my dry hands, but before we left I gave them a good nourishing rub with the locally made marula hand cream. If you recognize the name Amarula - you will know that it is the sweet fruit from the Marula tree that only grows in Africa. The fruits are like little orange litchi's and the Liqueur made from the marula fruit is one of our Biggest exports as 'Amarula Liqueur Cream'. Anyway - back to the story, my skin was nourished and I smelt lovely. Our drive took us deep into the bush and to areas that only trackers and qualified bushrangers have licences to move. As we approached the dam our guide told us he was going to move to a spot where the oncoming Elephants would trail past us, but we were to sit very still and as we would be a hands distance away from the most thrilling experience of a lifetime. I was nervous but excited. . . . and so he positioned the open Land-rover and switched off the engine. The ranger and the guide moved to the front of the vehicle and cocked their rifles and we waited. The bushes rustled and within seconds a few Elephants came ploughing over the trees and bushed towards us. Elephants are huge so as they walk they stomp everything in their trail flat as they were clearing a path right toward us. We were whispering under our breath ..... 'bull to the left' shhhhuuuu 'mom and calf on the right' and that is how it went until one little Elephant walked right up to me in the vehicle and smelt me with its hairy, prickly tusk. My eyes enlarged, my neck tensed and the 'little' 6 foot Elle took her hairy and prickly trunk and explored my skin - up and down, in my hair, on my cheek, down my arm and toward my little bag, this went on for about 5 minutes and the ranger in the front seat was saying softly . . . 'just sit still' Goosebumps, my hair raised, my eyes not blinking and the rustling of the Greater Elephants all around us - I was oblivious to my surrounds, I could just hear the noises and feel her hairy touch. Eventually, a Big Mother Elephant roared and the little Elle shook her head and moved away from the vehicle. The ranger said "stay still" I did - I was frozen, I was almost set in stone so scared to death I was. It wasn't even what seemed an eternity, and they all passed through the area we were parked. Eventually, what seemed like a lifetime, the ranger started up the vehicle and drove it to the Dam wall. He turned around and asked me if I was alright? ABSOLUTELY, the touch of an elephant and surviving - I was most certainly alright - maybe my heart was outside my body, but I was good. The ranger then asked me if I had perhaps put any of the marula fruits from the breakfast table in my bag - to which I replied No . . . . but then I told him that I had creamed my arms with the Amarula hand lotion from the room. That was it!! The Elle thought I was good enough to eat and was exploring the options. Apparently, it was the first time it had ever happened and the ranger said it was hair-raising for him as well, as Mother Elephants are very dangerous and would have stampeded the vehicle if the Baby Elle was feeling at all Non-satisfied or hungry. The little Elephant is front and centre in the photo. A great flashback to a wonderful adventure. One of my travel stories that I thought I would like to share with those that are confined to the home and missing some adventure. Have a great day everyone.