Elephant Encounter

One of the most amazing experiences in the life of my husband and i was the four hour "BUSH WALK" we had with three elephants, rescued from mistreatment and being abandoned by a couple called Doug and Sandy outside Stanley's Camp in Botswana. They are not caged or really trained, and to have the four hour experience we had to drive out to find them. When we did, Jabu (the only male of the 3)insists on being the first to be introduced and at 10.5 feet tall, when we had our picture taken with him he looked like a behemoth. He shook "hands" with us, allowed us to look in his mouth and touch one of the 16 sets of teeth he will have in a lifetime. Then we were introduced to the smaller females - Marula and Thiembi. We followed our 3 elephants as they ambled through the bush, ate the branches, had a mudbath (you have to stand FAR way to prevent being covered in mud), chased away other elephants and it was probably the most magical experience of our lives. Marula was asked to lie down so we could look at the pads of her feet, and feel her stomach skin, and she happily complied. Then being that close when she chose to rise to her feet was like looking at a wall being raised in front of us. At one point the three elephants stood in a line and one by one we stood in front of them and each put their trunk on our shoulders and head for photos - and let me tell you, trunks are very heavy. We were able to stroll with them while holding their trunks in our hands. At the end of our four hours, they demonstrated all their normal elephant noises for us, and when it was sadly time to leave - they all stood together and with slightly folded trunks, waved goodbye to us. NEVER EVER WILL WE FORGET THIS MESMORIZING EXPERIENCE.