Walking with Elephants

While visiting The Hide in Hwange National Park, we took a walking safari, meeting up with this guy.

He doesn't look big, but he was.  He was big and just beautiful.

I've done quite a few things in Africa now, but when you're about 5 feet from a bull elephant,
and your guide says "Stay very still, he'll think we're part of the tree" and you realize you're about,
hmm, like a millionth the size of the elephant, well, your heart just plummets through your toes.

And plummet my heart did...and it was was amazing, stunning, and terrifying at the same time.

Apparently showing visitors to Zimbabwe both the beauty and healthy fear of elephants is my new go-to tactic!

Just when my heart returned to its proper place in my chest, this guy came toward us.

He just continued to confirm why I absolutely love elephants, their beauty, their intelligence, and their
ability to remind you of what a tiny little place you occupy in this universe.

Just to add a tiny bit of variety to the elephant stream, one of Hwange's beautiful Acacia trees.

A red-billed horn bill.

And some pretty birds that my visitor would admonish me for forgetting their name since

apparently everyone (but me!) enjoys bird watching on safaris!

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The Gonarezhou Smorgasbord!

Remember Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge?  It's been awhile since I posted on it. I got distracted by HIFA.

It was a wonderful distraction, but back to Chilo Gorge!

While at Chilo Gorge in Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe, we came across this wonderful wildebeest.

This corner of Zimbabwe is just so incredibly lovely.

And it's easy to spot the last remnants of the rainy season.

Why, hello you impressive kudu, you!

The mighty baobab.  The tree goes right to your soul and it's impossible to weary of seeing it.

While driving, we came across this bull elephant.  He ignored us and ate.

And kept eating, and eating and eating!

Then, holy moly, throw that vehicle in REVERSE right now because he charged our vehicle, and he charged it fast.

My heart went through my toes and I must say, I was glad we were able to back up and back up fast.

This wasn't our only charge in Gonarezhou.  These were the most aggressive elephants I've come across in Zimbabwe.

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Oops....how did I forget this?

While working on this post on the elephants of Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, 

I accidentally forgot to include this video.  I thought it was too lovely not to share:

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Snapshots from the Air: Elephant Safari Style!

Why, hello, Jake the Elephant.  It's nice to see you again.

I recently took a safari...while riding Jake....in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

What a different perspective a safari is from on top an elephant!

See that wisp in the middle?  That's Victoria Falls from over 10 kilometers away. Insane.

I love, love, love the clouds in Zimbabwe.  This is still my favorite cloud shot while here, actually while in Africa.

Jake was the lead elephant..he apparently likes to leave the rest of the group in the dust.

Isn't Jake beautiful?

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How'd you spend Christmas? Me? Oh, I rode an elephant...

While celebrating Christmas in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, I met this guy---

as in Jake the Elephant.

I spent the Christmas holiday riding an elephant!

(That's not Jake in case you were curious)

It was a really cool experience once I got my mind around the fact that it was an elephant I was about to ride.

But then when I looked down for the first time all I could think was: holy crap, if I fall from this height next to a multi-ton animal....

What it looks like from above Jake the Elephant while he eats!

Couldn't resist...not often you're looking down at the tush of an elephant!

Jake.  Isn't he a beauty?  He was in his mid-20s.

The trunk and skin of an elephant: amazingly coarse!

I went in skeptical about riding an elephant, but it was an amazing experience I'm glad I did.

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Elephants on Parade

An elephant in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe.

(They get close. Sometimes so close I start to squirm a little.)

When elephants meet, they greet each other by wrapping their trunks around each other's trunk.

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And We're Off to Mana Pools!

Recently traveled to Mana Pools National Park in northern Zimbabwe in the lower Zambezi River region.

This the Parks and Wild Life office--easy to miss and a must stop to register with the park authorities.

Zimbabwe is crawling with these lizards. I have no idea what kind they are but this photo doesn't do their startling blue tails any justice!

The entrance to Mana Pools.  My favorite rule? Please avoid behaviour likely to disturb wild life or people.

Um, yes, please don't give the lions any reasons to attack...

While the dry season is the best for seeing wildlife (it's the dry season now), it makes it difficult for more drought-prone areas in Zimbabwe to survive.  Here, the park entrance makes do with a water tower (and public bathrooms!).

I thought baboons frolicking and leaping were a fitting way to start the new safari adventure!

And a sign of the difficulties of obtaining fuel in more remote parks of the country: the line of jerry cans...

And voila! Immediately entering the park we spot one of the big five: the African buffalo. 

And then this impressive bull elephant that stared us down!  This bodes well for the safari...

and to think! We hadn't even reached our safari lodge yet!

For more information on Mana Pools.

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