Four Elephant stories

Elephant Stories

1.  Part of the Herd (by Yoshi)

We were driving on our safari at Tarangire National Park when our guide Fadhili pointed out a breeding herd of elephants.  He stopped the jeep and as we watched they started to move towards the jeep.  Slowly the elephants first passed us behind and then in front of the jeep until we were surrounded by elephants.  We were right in the middle of the herd!

Once they were past us, mom and I gave a sigh of relief. It was an incredible experience to be part of the herd!

Crazy!

So cool!

Even the young ones have wrinkles!

 2.  Yoshi Gets Sniffed  (by mom)



Sometime later we came across another small herd with some younger babies.  We watched them for a while and then the matriarch began to move toward us.  Yoshi was sitting in the seat nearest to her at the open window.  Nobody moved.  The matriarch stopped leaving the other elephants waiting behind her.  She looked Yoshi over and took another step closer.  She then extended her long trunk toward the open window right where yoshi sat, and began to open and close the end of her trunk sniffing at Yoshi.  Yoshi was curled up on the seat with her head down looking toward the elephant.  The end of her trunk was so close we could see every twitch.  We could smell her smell and hear every breath and sniffing sound she made.



Suddenly satisfied, she withdrew her trunk and moved around the jeep followed by the rest of her group.  Yoshi and I took a few breaths and smiled, and gasped.  Even with tears in our eyes at the joy and relief at the incredible encounter!  Something neither of us will ever forget!


 We don't have any photos because we couldn't move in order to stay safe, but here are some of our favorites from the safari.

Sooooooo cuuuute!  Ohhhhhh!

Talk to the tail!

 3.  Dont mess with the Mama (Elder) - A cheeky teenager (like someone we know Ts'ik'ap?)
(by mom and Yoshi)
In the afternoon we came across a herd of about five elephants.  Two of the young males that reminded us of teenagers were sparring, clacking their tusks together in play.  They did this for a while and then broke off for a break.  But one of the cheeky young males decided to continue on challenging one of the older, and bigger elephants.  The older elephant quickly put him in his place by taking her trunk and laying it threateningly over the young male's head then pushing him with her forehead.  The young male was forced to back up and turned around.  The older elephant then stuck it's trunk under the backside of the young male and again shoved him with her head pushing him forward.  The young male quickly responded to the discipline and came back into line with the older male close behind.
We thought about Taro for sure :) !

 

young males sparring

Discipline!

 4.  Elephants in the Camp!

 Back at Tarangire Camp .

Amazing view Tarangire Camp

Little elephant in Camp!

Day 3 Tarangire Camp 
We spent the morning in camp watching animals.  In camp we saw dik-diks (little deer) outside of our tent, and a huge group of baboons.  Yoshi counted 40 in two separate groups!
We walked to the end of the camp to the viewpoint which was stunning!
We had a nice view into the valley below watching elephants for a long time near the Tarangire River which  means Warthog River. (not as romantic as Tarangire!)

On our way back to the tent, what was behind our tent?  Elephants! Close encounter!

So wild!

Being careful

Closer

Closer

Too close

 We ran inside our tent to watch after this.  Then one of the staff came making a clanking noise with a tool to try to scare the elephant away.  Yoshi and I didn't know where it was so we looked outside of each side of the tent and Yoshi saw the elephant let off a very loud trumpeting sound that echoed through our tent (and our bodies quite frankly) and saw it charge the guy making the noise.  We ran back inside to the back of our tent that has a small concrete wall where there is a plumbed bathroom area.  We were both shaking.  Poor Yoshi, she really had a scare thinking the elephant was going to hurt the staff, but it didn't.  Everyone was ok.  That was definitely a little too close.  We will never forget the alarming sound of an elephant trumpeting!

Majestic powerful Creatures