Elephants must drink round 200 litres of water a day, so waterholes draw enormous herds. However, after I travelled to Somalisa Camp in Zimbabwe, I discovered that waterholes aren’t only for consuming.
I travelled to Somalisa camp in Hwange Nationwide Park, Zimbabwe. Hwange is the most important protected areas in Zimbabwe and residential to 45,000 elephants.
There have been plenty of elephants throughout camp, however my information Extra knew a really particular place referred to as Kennedy 2 Pan to look at them coming to a waterhole at sundown.
African Elephants are the most important land mammals on earth, standing as much as 13 toes tall, weighing over 5 tonnes, and dwelling in enormous herds of as much as 100 people.
The herd that I noticed coming into the waterhole was one of many largest I’ve ever seen. It was a breeding herd, comprised of intently associated females and their younger which was led by the most important, oldest and most skilled feminine, often known as the matriarch.
Elephants must drink as much as 200 litres of water a day so water holes attracts these herds to the realm. However don’t simply use the waterholes for consuming. They use it to chill off too within the blistering 40C/104F temperatures.
Regulating their very own physique temperature is an enormous downside for elephants as they’ll’t sweat and they also use water to chill themselves down. And, the wrinkles on the elephant’s pores and skin have a captivating capability – the ability to carry water!
And the water gap supplies them with one other alternative to chill down – mud baths! They cake their pores and skin with a thick layer of mud to assist decrease their physique temperature and the wrinkles assist the mud keep put. The mud has different advantages too – performing as a sunscreen and as a parasite deterrent!
Because the solar goes down, the scene on the waterhole turns into much more magical. The mud is lit up within the fiery pink daylight and all the things turns a wealthy, golden orange. It has been wonderful to spend this time with these elephants, to see them come collectively, to drink, bathe and have enjoyable. And see the strategies they use to maintain themselves cool below the ability of the African solar.