We were staying at Etosha’s Dolomite Camp, at the (less visited) western end of the national park, and were just approaching the local waterhole when we spotted this herd of elephants coming directly towards us.
They appeared to be on a ‘collision course’, but we could see that the well-trodden trail they followed would take them just in front of our Hilux. Just in case, however, I put the vehicle in reverse and gave them a bit more room – which they seemed to appreciate, judging by their body language. In any case, they appeared quite unconcerned and calm as they passed us.
By the time the elephants reached the waterhole all the other animals there had beaten a hasty retreat. We had observed before that the youngsters in the herds take great delight in chasing away the antelopes and birds that make the mistake of remaining at the waterhole.
After an hour or so the herd decided to move on. Not in an orderly fashion this time—some stragglers stayed on for a while and then ran after the rest of them.
