We were going to discover this place at all costs. I have heard about it for far too long and the fact that it is in the laikipia plateau made it all the more worthwhile. I have seen the photos and fantasized forever but other than that is within me the secret prayer of meeting up with elephants.Well its 4pm. We have asked directions but google maps was the real winner on this one. We have been going for almost an hour and are about to give up when we notice the sign on the stone. And in we go.....
What happened was probably the best thing that has happened this year for me. We run into a herd of Elephants. This is not one of those things you see on national geographic or see in a picture book. This is the real real thing...real life down to the very grass they are stepping on. My oh my the kids are squeeling in the back of the car...my husband has turned into a professional photographer/driver and my phone has turned into a camera.
There is a feeling here of pure Africa in the beasts face...its beautiful this creature... i think it has been underated. ....wow simply wow
Am looking at this animal and telling myself i am lucky as the the African bush elephant is the largest land animal, reacheing up to
24 feet in length and 13 feet in height.
It is the largest of the three elephant species and can weigh up to 11
tons and live up to 70 years, longer than any other mammal except
humans. Imagine that sitting on you.......... This african bush elephant is a herbivores and need to eat about 350 pounds of vegetation daily. (of this am rather glad. Being surrounded like that by any carnivore is akin to being in a horror movie)In addition to two prominent tusks, which are present in both sexes, the elephant is characterized by its two large ears, pillar like legs, thickset body and a large head with a muscular, mobile trunk. The trunk is a strong appendage, with more than 40,000 muscles and tendons. Its sensitive tip ends in two finger-like projections, which can manipulate small objects. The trunk can lift some seriously heavy stuff....maybe our car....that would be so totally cool. Water is sucked up through the trunk and then blown into the mouth for a drink or onto the back as a cooling mist.
We have noticed that this herd is made up of females and one young which indeed is how it should be. Did you know they are managed by the eldest female, called the matriarch. The adult male elephant rarely joins a herd and leads a solitary life, only approaching herds during mating season. Females give birth to a single calf after 22 months of gestation, the longest gestation period among mammals.
i am going to sleep well tonight i can see and hope for more action tommorrow...all caught on camera.
