On Lock-Down inside Kruger National Park – Day 27
So while I was waiting for our president’s speech last night about the COVID-19 situation in South Africa (hoping that the lock-down would not be extended again), I heard some wire strands breaking at the back fence. Now when we hear a sound like that, we know from experience exactly what is happening…. elephants! I immediately started to laugh. Throughout the country, all South Africans cannot wait to get out and here in Kruger we have elephants that want to break in!
I grabbed the spotlight and went out the back door. A whole herd of elephants was in our neighbour’s yard: cows and young calves. A young cow had pushed through the fence to where my office and the student’s safari tents are. She was feeding on the lush grass.
I started filming the elephants and as I walked towards them, I got a phone call from a number that I did not recognize. I usually do not answer unknown numbers, but something told me I better answer this one. ” Hello, hello, neighbour, is that you outside?” It was the senior gate official that lives in the first house in our little staff village. The house with a whole herd of elephants in her garden… ” “Yes, it is me”, I answered our very concerned sounding neighbour. “Yoh, Steve I saw the lights and then when I looked…. yoh, there are all these elephants in my yard! Oh eh eh!!
“Ja there is a whole breeding herd. They are by your front room now, but they are very relaxed. Don’t worry, they will move out again.” I said and I had to laugh. Here I am shining my spotlight on this herd of elephants and inside the house, the curtains open and there are our neighbour and her family looking at the elephants while the elephants were looking at them. It sounded like the electric fence around her yard was off. (That garden only has a waist-high fence around it which is electrified.) “I will get maintenance to come and have a look at the fence tomorrow morning, they will probably leave soon. Lekker slaap neighbour!”
I stood there a while and when the elephants slowly made their way out I was still laughing at the irony during such uncertain times we currently find ourselves in. We are living with severe restrictions at the moment. And while all South Africans cannot wait to break out, we have elephants that just want to break in!!
Stay safe South Africa!
Cheers, Steve.
If you want to read some more about Elephant Shenanigans, have a look at The Pachyderms and the Two-Leggeds (one of my favourite blogs Linda ever wrote) and Goodbye Gate.
Hi Steve. Just finished reading All things wild and wonderful by Kobie Kruger where her husband threw a raw egg at a garden invading elephant., to the elephant’s horror. It took off, never to be seen again. Enjoy, you lucky people.
That is a good idea, Jill! I forgot about that one! Hahaha rather that then the raw egg challenge that has been doing the rounds on social media!;-))
Brilliant. amazing that the Elephants know when fences are switched off.
Great story Stay well.
Regards Diane
They are so incredibly clever! Just love them!
Love your story Steven! This is simply I would love to experience!
Thanks, Simonette. Never a dull moment in the bush!
Where are the pics? Would love to see it. Regards
I will post a short video on our Facebook Page in a bit!
Hi there ! I do so enjoy your posts from Kruger especially as I am an 88 year old stuck at home. Keep going and sterkte !
I am so glad we can provide a bit of entertainment, Ron! Stay safe!
Love the irony! Another great story – thanks.
Thanks, Sal! Funny haha, luckily!
Lekker om die van opwindende drama te lees. Ons moes nou in Olifantskamp wees vir vakansie, maar ingehok en ons kan nie uitbreek soos die olifante ingebreek het nie. Groete
I really hope the president is going to announce some softemning of the lockdown soon…
Those would be the kind of i truders I would welcome. Has there been much poaching since the lockdown?
Hi Steve, what a good story. I love that elephants will do whatever they want! They don’t care about restrictions. Greetings from all the friends in Canada.
Thanks Steve for an uplifting story. Makes a difference to lockdown in suburbia. Kruger is the best place to be right now.
Zo geweldig om te lezen! Geeft het gevoel een beetje in Kruger te zijn…