For any nature-lover, the African bush is one of the most thrilling destinations on Earth. Home to animals such as the elusive leopard, the monochromatic zebra and the rather bizarre-looking tall-necked giraffe, it holds many wonders. But as the largest living land mammal, the African elephant has one of the most iconic statuses in the bush, with its presence often leaving many in awe.
For anyone working in conservation in Africa, searching for these gentle giants provides amazing opportunities to explore the wild and unpredictable bush. While on their day off, Peace Parks Foundation’s Hannes van Wyk and Lourens de Lange search for a herd of elephant that have regularly been spotted at Massingir Dam in Mozambique’s Limpopo National Park.
But as with most things in Africa, their journey takes them on quite an adventure!
The Adventure To Massingir Dam
The pair’s adventure to Massingir Dam was a unique experience in itself. The road, having largely been unused for some time, was full of obstacles in the form of hidden tree stumps and large branches that the elephants had knocked over to feed on during their trip down to the water. Nevertheless, with some good driving skills from Lourens and patience from both, they were able to get there with the car and themselves in one piece.
However, despite their adventure to get there, not a single elephant was in sight. Nonetheless, the breathtaking views of the dam were just as remarkable!
But their determination was not dampened, and later that afternoon, the duo took to the skies on an afternoon patrol flight. While doing a turn over the spot they had investigated earlier that morning, a large herd of elephant can be seen soaking in the dam during the hot afternoon.
Knowing these elephants’ movements within the landscape can help conservationists to learn more about their behaviour and migration patterns. This helps organisations like Peace Parks Foundation to monitor and observe these animals to ensure that effective strategies are put in place to help safeguard Africa’s remarkable creatures.
