Month of the Mud Bath

To the wildlife of Mashatu yesterday was just another day in their lives. To me, it was the best day spent in the underground hide I have experienced thus far. As temperatures have begun soaring into the 30’s, the wildlife on Mashatu Game Reserve have had to adapt and make some changes to their everyday routines. These changes are bringing life to the waterhole of the C4 Underground Elephant Hide like never before. Hundreds of elephants have been pulling in from afar not only for a quick drink but also a mud bath. Alongside the elephants we have impala, warthog, kudu, eland, monkey’s and not to mention the birdlife – all co-existing together in harmony...for a change!

 

Here are a series of images from our jammed packed morning of hide activity, hope you enjoy pictures as much as we enjoyed our morning!

 

First herd of the morning arriving in full force

Shortly after the elephants arrived the impala
 

Impala, followed by the vervet monkey's
 

As the herd sizes continued to grow the elephants squashed around the waterhole for a drink, getting closer and closer to the photographers
 

One elephant taking its first steps into the water while the other socialises with the impala
 

Time to get serious, as the elephants begin covering themselves in muddy water the photographers in the hide start dodging the sprays
 

A warthog decides to join in
 

A young calf also getting involved
 

...And the fun continues
 

Finally, finishing up the pamper session with a layer of dry clay soil

 

Hundreds of photo's later, one muddy t-shirt and our mud bath mania morning was complete!



By Ruth Nussbaum