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Hi Trrp-trrrrrrrr! Thanks for your comments. Hmmmm ... I'm not quite sure about loving those baboons ... they scare the life out of me! Yes, that little steenbok was very obliging but it was almost strange seeing him out in the open and not at all skittish ...

Hi Lion Queen! Thanks for your comments. Yes, we were very lucky with the little steenbokkie that day - amazing to see him out in the open and not covered by thick bush or tall grass. If you loved those elephants just wait ... you are in for a treat ...!

Hi AKadwa! Welcome to my TR - good to have you on board. Thanks for your comments - Lake Panic really is a magic place!

Hi Pumbaa! Thanks for your comments! The trouble with the forum is it is SO addictive!!! With so much else going on I have to limit my time on here (but even then that plan goes out the window most of the time!)

Hi Heksie! It was a nice troop; not so many of the big scary males! Mum still goes on about the baboon giving her a "high five" and can't wait to see the photos - I am running out of excuses as to why I haven't been able to download my photos to show her yet!!!

WendyA.....on all stunning photos and great sightings

By this time it was 4pm and we were thinking a quick loo break at Lower Sabie before continuing down to Croc Bridge …

that was until we came across this …



A teeny tiny brand new baby ellie!



He still hadn’t quite figured out how to balance properly on his legs and kept leaning against his Mum to stop himself from falling over!





He was a real newbie ...



“Ooooh dear, how do these legs work?”



His Mum went off into the bush and started eating. He had a good sniff at the other females …





But his Mum didn’t leave him for too long and was shortly back …



The three females were very protective and kept the little one well surrounded.



“Whoops, I thought this thing on my face would help me balance … wrong!”



“Okay, I think I’ve got the hang of this walking thing now …”





... and he followed his Mum and aunties into the bush.

How AMAZING was that???!!!

Hi Philip1! Thanks for your comments and for the High 5!

WoW Wendy,

that tinyfant is indeed brand new - How gorgeous it that - It looks like mom still had blood on her legs What a privilege - What did your Mom say??? I think that would have amazed my Mom too

The forum is addictive and I also sometimes should do other things but sometimes it simply not possible

Hi Pumbaa! Yep, the tinyfant was brand new. I didn't want to go into too much detail (after all, this is a family forum!) but you can see the blood on the inside of the female's legs and on the baby's face. You will also see that the tarmac on the road is all wet - that was a combination of urine and blood (and leftovers of the placenta). It was amazing watching the other females with the little one ... in other animals, the mother will lick her offspring clean; obviously ellies can't do this. All the females were blowing dirt over the little one instead! There was silence in the car whilst Mum and I were witnessing this ... and every now and then we would just gasp and then giggle a little (for instance when the little one collapsed on his wobbly legs!).

Ya-nee Wendy!
at that beautiful and amazing kiekies of new life. A miracle just happened and you witnessed the aftermath really a magnificent and special sighting that you and mum shared

WendyA Those photos of the new born ellie are so beautiful,
I really love the elephants
What an amazing sighting and such special photos,
A BIG Thank you for sharing

Now that is precious



Wendy, that is really a sighting of sightings.

Hi Wendy

WOW, how privileged you were with that fantastic sighting!

That baby elephant is just too cute for words.

Absolutely awesome sighting of the Ellie...how special to actually be there ...can just imagine the camera must have been clicking at supersonic speed.

How special that you could share this amazing moment and sighting with your Mom. ....an experience some of us could only dream of.

Thanks for sharing.