ELEPHANT SIGHTINGS - 2005
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December 2005
Elephant viewing continued much the same as it did in November with the rains causing the herds to disperse rather than concentrate around the Sand River . Many excellent elephant sightings were had at the Picadilly pans that had been filled by the summer rains and are large enough to accommodate an entire herd of bathing elephants at once. On very warm days herds actually queued up in order to make use of these popular facilities.
November 2005
There were not nearly as many sightings of elephants in November as there had been in October, but this is not surprising. Before the rains came, the elephants would have made daily trips to the Sand River bed to dig for water, and also to feed on the reeds in the river bed. Predictably, as soon as the first heavy rains came, the elephants dispersed, as they were able to drink elsewhere and also enjoy the luxury of mud wallows. The green grass that came soon after the rain, also meant that the elephants became less destructive on the trees.
Elephants were by no means in short supply in November, and there was still plenty of excellent elephant viewing to be had.
October 2005
The numbers of elephants seen on Mala Mala continued to be very high in October with numerous herds being seen every day. The Sand River , of course, drew many of the elephants to its underground water and a look at the map will show that the vast majority of sightings of elephants were recorded along this river.
September 2005
As has been the case over the last several months, there was a great abundance of elephants in September, with the majority of sightings of herds being concentrated along the Sand River.
August 2005
Elephant herds were again plentiful, particularly in the northern half of the reserve, and particularly along the banks of the Sand River .
July 2005
Elephants were in great abundance for much of the month, with there being far more sightings of herds of elephants than of elephant bulls. It will be noticed, however, that there were far fewer sightings of elephants in the southern half of the reserve than in the north. The torchwood trees (Ballanites maughamii) have now stopped producing fruit, and the elephants have several months to wait for their other great delicacy, the marula.
At this time of the year, they spend a great deal of time in the river beds, feeding on reeds, as well as in areas of scrubby Acacia thickets. The bark of the round-leafed kiaat is also popular. Few species of trees are spared the attention of elephants, but one blessing about the relatively low concentration of elephant bulls, is that not too many mature trees are being pushed over.
June 2005
Once again, there was no shortage of elephants, although the total number of sightings was a little down, when compared with the previous month. Not as many elephant bulls were seen as may have been expected. Predictably, a high percentage of the elephant sightings took place along the banks of the Sand River.
In winter, these pachyderms spend a great deal of time feeding on the reeds in the river bed during the day, but at night tend to move up to the ridges, where it is warmer. Some torchwood trees are still bearing fruit, which the elephants enjoy, while other popular trees at this time of the year are the buffalo thorn, for its leaves, and the round-leafed teak, for its bark.
May 2005
There were more sightings of elephant herds than elephant bulls, and many of these sightings were concentrated along the banks of the Sand River.
At this time of year, the torchwood trees (Ballanites maughamii), are bearing fruit, and elephants are often found at the base of these trees, eating the oil-rich fruit. Elephants often even shake the trees in order to get many of the fruit to fall onto the ground.
April 2005
There was again a huge abundance of elephants, and some of the herds seen were very large indeed. As the grass is beginning to dry out, the elephants are spending more and more time in or near the Sand River, feeding on the reeds there. The vast majority of elephants seen were highly relaxed, but a few aggressive individuals were encountered. All elephants must, of course, be treated with utmost respect!
March 2005
Elephant herds were again plentiful, as were the solitary bulls and small groups of bulls. The marula season is now over, after a real bumper crop kept the elephants (and many other animals) happy for a good six to eight weeks. As there was not much rain in March, and conditions are starting to become rather dry, more and more sightings of elephants are predictably along the Sand River.
February 2005
February was the peak of the marula season, and throughout the month, every pile of elephant dung was full of slightly digested marula fruit. Good numbers of elephants came to feed on this year’s bumper crop of marulas, but of course they were often seen feeding on other food materials. The grass is still green and lush, and elephants are grazing a good deal too. Relatively few trees were being ring-barked or pushed over by the elephants.
January 2005
Elephants were plentiful in January, but there was a far higher concentration of them in the northern parts of the reserve than in the south. The marula trees have started dropping their fruit, and this always attracts many elephants. Many bulls are in musth and need to be treated with caution (ALL elephants should be treated with caution and respect, at ALL times!!). One of the seven Big Tuskers of the Kruger National Park, “Muliluane” was seen on Mala Mala on numerous occasions in January.
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