Elephants and Greedy Hornbills

Thursday 10th September

Rustenburg

We had planned to spend today in Rustenburg, but the call of the wild was just too irresistible, and we found ourselves heading to Pilanesberg for some animal spotting.  We hadn't planned on visiting here until later in the trip, but we thought it wouldn't do any harm to have a sneak preview today.

 

And I'm glad we did!  We were barely one kilometre into the National Park when we spotted some elephants by a water hole.  It was a herd of about twelve, mainly young, including some of the smallest babies I've seen.

 

Elephants, Pilanesberg

As we pulled the car down a small track to the edge of the water, a second herd, again about 12-strong, began to approach the water.  They spent quite some time sussing each other out, the leading adults from each herd going to meet first, with the others protecting their young and then an 'all-clear' signal was given and the two herds mixed, sniffing, feeling and playing with one another at the water.

 

As if this wasn't impressive enough, a mother and baby hippo joined the scene, plunging into the water beside the elephants, while a bearded jackal prowled around to complete the African picture.

 

Just as we were about to leave, yet another family of elephants arrived, coming round the opposite side of the water, right by where we were parked.  One adult female came right up to examine the cars, perhaps a little too close for comfort.

 

It's difficult to know when to leave a scene like this, but as two of the elephant families moved on, so did we.  Giraffes were the next encounter - a family of six parading along the road.

 

Pilanesberg has a number of small hides where it is possible to get out on foot.  At the first of these, Mankwe, we were greeted by a (very young looking) crocodile, some terrapins and all manner of birdlife, including a pied kingfisher and a fish eagle making a catch.

 

The Offending Hornbill

At lunchtime, we headed to Pilanesberg Centre, where a rather greedy hornbill finished off my boerewors before I had the chance.  There was a huge commotion as someone claimed to see a lion, though I remain sceptical.

 

After a lot of driving, we saw a herd of wildebeest chase off a small jackal.  There were plains game aplenty, including a comical scene of zebra crossing the road.

 

As the sun began to set, we returned to Pilanesberg Centre to see of there was any news of the alleged lion, but there wasn't.  There was, however, a solitary male elephant drinking from a pond just 10m away from where we were standing.  He had found something on the ground, which he proceeded to break into small pieces, and then using the finger on his trunk picked each up in turn to eat.  It always provides a special moment to stand so close to such a magnificent animal.

 

Having found our way to Pilanesberg so easily, we hadn't expected such a difficult journey home.  We took a wrong turn somewhere and before we knew it, were completely lost.  With the help of one of the roadside sellers who can be found at every set of robots, we managed to find our way back to Rustenburg and from there to our accommodation at Woodridge Palms in Millvale, though if I never have to drive through Rustenburg in the dark again, I'll be a very happy man.