Here’s my entry for Frizz’s A-Z challenge this week. The letter ‘E has been tagged’, so here’s an elephant for you.
The male African Elephant is the largest living terrestrial animal and can grow to a height of 4m (13ft), and weigh 7,000kg (15,000 lbs). One of the biggest threats to their continued existence, is of course the ivory trade, and sadly, these magnificent creatures are still being poached for their tusks.
On a visit to Zimbabwe a few years ago, we did a sunset cruise down the Zambezi River. It was so exciting to see elephants on the riverbank. Enormous herds of elephant, some up to hundred strong, are often seen at the river’s edge, although we only saw a few.
First there was one.
Then he was joined by a couple more.
They just kept coming. It was so special to see these gentle giants in their natural surroundings.
To see more entries for Frizz’z ‘Tagged-E’ challenge, just click on the badge.
anotherdayinparadise 
It was the hippos I found most memorable on the Zambezi at sunset, I wish I had photos 😦
I didn’t get to see any hippos. 😦
The close up is priceless Sylvia. Seeing them in the wild must have been so special!
Thanks, Madhu. Yes it was very special indeed. 🙂
grande foto quella dell’incontro ravvicinato con il signor elefante!
Yes, it was an awesome experience. They are so amazing to see in the wild. 🙂
“to see these gentle giants in their natural surroundings…” – and not in a zoo (like me)
in the Zoo of Wuppertal – they once even took a baby elephant into a hanging tram, but the floor broke and the elephant fell down into the river (was saved by a fire brigade – but, hey – that had not been natural surroundings for the baby elephant …)
How dreadful for the poor elephant. I’m so glad that he survived the fall and was saved.
I absolutely adore your first take 🙂 If love elephants 🙂
Thanks, Paula. 🙂
🙂
😛
I bet the thrill and anticipation of spotting them added to the excitement of the trip. Dumbo looks cute with the up-close picture.
Yes, absolutely. He does look really cute, doesn’t he? 🙂
Thanks for sharing the thrill.
Your welcome, Frank. 🙂
amazing post, like usually… one question: how men can hunt and kill these wonderful animals?!… and many others, unfortunately… 😦
Thanks so much, Mélanie. It’s so sad that men can be so thoughtless and cruel. 😦
What a beauty! Great shots Sylvia. 😀 *hugs*
Thanks so much, Sonel. 🙂 Hugs to you too.
Lovely setting to see them in. From cars can make one a bit nervous. I have already had one of them cause me to become aware of just how fast my car could travel in reverse gear without burning out the engine.
Love your shots. Elephants are one of the most majestic animals I have ever seen…even more so in their natural surroundings.
Ditto Gunta’s comment…excellent post! You have been to some amazing places. 🙂
Such huge creatures but with such a gentle nature
Such magnificent animals!
They sure are BIG … and … they sure are Elephants.
That means it’s the perfect entry for the ‘E’ challenge.
Good job !!!!
Thanks, Issy. 🙂
Like, Like, Like and Like! I’m frustated sometimes I cannot hit that button, be it from low connection or too mamy likes for Sylvia’s great pictures!:)
Thanks so much, Dana. I know what you mean about that naughty ‘like’ button. 🙂
Lovely pics!With love maxima
Thanks so much, Stefan. 🙂
I would just love to see one of these beautiful creatures in the wild. The ivory trade is so cruel and people who actually buy the stuff are just horrible as far as I’m concerned.
This would have to be the biggest and best E for the challenge 😀
Thanks, Dianne. They don’t come much bigger than an elephant. 🙂
Beautiful giants! I love your photos specially the first one.
Thanks so much, Marilou. 🙂
It all looks so green, Ad, but then Zim isn’t one of the dryer places in Africa, is it? Lovely shots 🙂
Yes, it was very green on the banks of the Zambezi. These pics were taken in early January, and Zimbabwe’s rainfall typically occurs from December through to March.
Well I don’t need to tell you how much I adore elephants! Isn’t it amazing how such enormous creatures can suddenly appear from out of the bush and then just melt away again? Your close-up is a great shot. If I wasn’t doing buildings for the challenge, then elephants would have been my choice for E.
Jude xx
Thanks so much, Jude. Yes, they are such amazing creatures. xx
Seeing them in the wild is amazing!
Yes, absolutely. 🙂
It’s amazing that, despite their size, they can blend in with their surroundings! Lovely pics, AD.
Very true, adee. They are quite well camouflaged.
Lovely post and still so sad that people are after ivory. They are fantasic animals!
Thanks, Ute. Yes the poachers are very cruel, and the people who buy the ivory from them, even worse. 😦
LovE it…
Thanks, Bulldog. Hope you’re doing well. 🙂
E is for excellent post! 😀
Thanks so much, Gunta. 🙂
Wow! What an amazing experience, Sylvia! Beautiful capture.
Thanks so much, Naomi. A wonderful memory. 🙂
What an experience, you were so close!
Thanks, Lisa. Yes, it was a great experience.
I can almost feel the ground shake as they lumber along. Thank you for sharing this beautiful experience!
Thanks for your lovely comment, Elisa. Glad you enjoyed. 🙂
They are beautiful. How exciting to see them in their natural habitat.
Yes, they are really wonderful creatures. I loved being there, so close to them. 🙂
And soon you will be back in Africa. I’m glad you blog. It’s seamless! 🙂 xxx
Such a fabulous collection of photographs! i cannot imagine being that close to an Elephant!!!
Thanks, Kathryn. Yes, it was an amazing experience. If you go to Africa, you can do the same. 🙂
Someday over the rainbow : )
Never say never. 🙂
I didn’t !!!!!
I love elephants and it sickens me that poaching still occurs.
Me too, Paulette. It’s absolutely beyond my comprehension that people can do such terrible things to animals.
These giants are so fascinating … And i love that they really care about their family …
It makes me sad, that there are people hunting these animals just for their ivory tusks … // Maria 🙂
Yes, they are such amazing animals, Maria. We should be protecting, not harming them.
They are amazing animal. Not only their impressive size but they are quite smart and appear to have complex emotion.
I recently looked up whether a snake bite can kill an elephant or not. I did not expect that it can but a snake bite can kill the much larger size animal as well.
Yes, they are, and as you say, quite smart. It’s certainly very surprising that a snake could kill such a huge animal.
What a magnificent creature!
So sad – how they are sought out for their tusks. So very sad.
If you get a chance – watch this touching reunion of two elephants after 20 years… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF8em4uPdCg
Thanks, RoSy. I did watch this really moving video. It brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing.
Magnificent creatures!
Yes they most certainly are. 🙂