Elephant visit13th Jan
Unlucky for some but not me, still having a great time. Got up at 6-30, packed and got the bike out at 8, loaded up and off. Not bad but only 18 degrees as I headed over Long Tom pass again on the way to Hazyview. Amazing, know the road know so zipped along, timing overtakes well and good progress made, got to Sabie and turned off onto another great road. Twisted and turned but no mountains, quite flat with plants spreading into the carriageways. Not much vision so only did 70-80 until Hazyview. Headed to Elephant Whispers and booked for tomorrow, must be stupid, elephants are big animals and why ride one?
Went off for lunch and chatted to a man who said the road to Grasskop was brilliant on a bike so went for it, only 40k. Rode off and met some elephants on the road, thought they might remember if I did anything stupid so turned off engine and watched then grabbed camera for a picture. Off to Graskop and back again, sky getting black, rain falling, me drenched, lots of noise and bright flashes so first place I saw I booked in.


Luxury, was amazing, but had a thought, elephants hate lightening and thunder, Me going to spend a day with elephants, hmmmm? At 5 am was wondering whether to stay asleep but the rain had stopped by then.
Got up at 6 and headed off arriving at 6-30. Met some very bright and breezy people and discovered I was all on my own.
Headed off to see the elephants get up and out. They had had a bad night as had the keepers. All looked good, had a drink, one of them turns on the tap and will only drink from the hose, then went back to do their exercises. I was shown how to brush one down

and stick my hand in its mouth,

they chose the big bull for this but all went well and escaped with all digits intact.

The elephants went off and I was left to help muck out, they are busy animals in the night,

Nice and clean now.

the baby one took 6 wheel barr
ow loads and all the branches and twigs. Hour later I was allowed to escape back to a coffee and breakfast. That over went back to the elephants, the keepers I must say are fantastic and the elephants who were all on the death list and mostly orphans or remains from culls trust them and mostly follow instructions as the humans seem to have become the matriarch.
Spent some time touching and feeding them and then was told they were off to the bush to feed, climb on with some help and off we went.

Bare back riding an elephant, will only say the bike is easier, ahh but it was brilliant.

Got to spot and the elephants kneel and you slide off, gave him some treats

in the form of pellets to bribe him and he got up and off they all wandered to feed. The big bull kept on creeping up and was incredibly quiet, surprised me a few times but they all wandered away and we stayed away but close to stop them wandering off too far into trouble.
Walked back when it rained and had lunch. After lunch was tourist time and the elephants were, well 2 of them were used to keep us all happy allowing everyone to stroke etc. Then we all went for a ride with massive saddles, not nearly as nice. When they all left it was feeding time again and off they went with me in tow, this time they decided to play in the water scaring the croc away. Then they went off eating. I sat two metres away as one ate from a thorn bush picking with its trunk, (the keeper was 1.5 metres away),

I was still wary, they just push you if you are in the way and one of the keepers had his foot stood on.
Herded them about again and then got to take them home for bed time at 5-30.
It was an amazing experience, not sure who has trained who but the elephants only work with the people because of the respect and treats or rewards. When the elephants want something, nothing stops them going for it, 10 keepers and the bull, he got the Amurulo branch, shared it with young lady elephant and when finished did what he was told, reminded of a class of children with selective hearing.
If there is a day to remember about this trip this is it, words can not explain, photos, I have plenty but in my head is a jumble of memories, thoughts and emotions, incredible day and even thought on the day it would have been great to share with Steph.
Anyway enough of the Maudling thoughts, back on the bike and back for some food a bath (I stink) and sleep.