This thirsty elephant could have done with a pair of trunks… after deciding to have a refreshing drink straight out of a private infinity swimming pool.
Tourists lucky enough to witness the moment looked on in awe as the baby bull elephant took massive gulps to cool down.
The mighty beast, along with a small herd, discovered the water at Kambaku River Sands in the Timbavati private nature reserve, Kruger National Park.
A thirsty elephant decided to have a refreshing drink… straight out of a private infinity swimming pool
The young bull elephant discovered the water at Kambaku River Sands in the Timbavati private nature reserve, Kruger National Park
‘At one point, he wasn’t even drinking but just sucking and spraying water in my direction,’ said Villiers Steyn, who took the photos
As it has been a dry season there, not many natural rivers are flowing and waterholes are dry, meaning that elephants resort to other methods.
Photographer Villiers Steyn, 33, spotted the elephant taking sips and managed to capture some heart-melting pictures.
Steyn, from Hoedspruit, said: ‘I was leading a private photographic tour for a British guy.
‘He just wanted a guide for the morning and afternoon drive. The morning drive was very quiet and hardly any animals were seen.
‘When we came back to camp, we heard that the previous day the elephants had come to drink at the pools by the dining area.
As it has been a dry season, not many natural rivers are flowing and waterholes are dry, meaning that elephants resort to other methods
‘So instead of myself and my guest going to rest and relax, we decided to wait for the elephants to come back, and sure enough, they did.
‘I was lying on my stomach about two meters away from the young bull. He was so relaxed.
‘At one point, he wasn’t even drinking but just sucking and spraying water in my direction.
‘I waited a lot as this happened throughout the day, and I needed the water to have no ripples for the reflection shot, so that took patience too.
‘I’m currently stiff from holding my camera so low down, but it was so worthwhile. It was so incredible’.
Steyn had been leading a private photographic tour when he decided to visit the elephant ‘watering hole’
By: NICK ENOCH
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