Ivory Spikes
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 10, 2019: In these days of poaching, isn't it nice to see the beautiful ivory tusks on these elephants.
Elephant Cow
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 10,2019: A mature elephant cow fans her ears as she moves towards us.
Elephants Up Close
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 10,2019: This youngster was just a few steps away from our truck.
Right of Way
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 10,2019: Who has the right of way? The elephants of course.
A Large Elephant Moves Closer
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 10,2019: As they move closer, their size becomes quite intimidating.
A Herd of Elephants March To The Road
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 10, 2019: A herd of elephants march closer to the road. These are females with babies. Young females will stay with the herd for life, whereas young males will eventually be booted out of the herd around 12-14 years of age. As the males' testosterone levels increase, their behavior becomes unruly and unacceptable to the matriarch and the family.
On the Move
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 10,2019: A herd of elephants follow the matriarch to new grazing grounds.
Mom and baby
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 11, 2019: A baby elephant stays close to the mother's side in Tarangire National Park. A female will usually give birth to one calf after a gestation period of 22 months.
Portrait of an Elephant
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 11,2019: Portrait of an elephant on a black background in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania, Africa.
Just Another Day In the Life of the Wild
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 11, 2019: A herd of elephants graze in the swamp near the recent lion kill of a wildebeest. Can they see it? Do they smell it? Does it make them nervous? Questions I asked myself, but that I will never know. They acted as if they didn't know it was there and never got any closer than this.
Elephant Mother Nurses Baby
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 11, 2019: A mother elephant stands patiently allowing her young calf to happily nurse. When a mother gives birth, the herd surrounds her for safety. The calf can stand within minutes after birth, and members of the herd then assist the baby as it searches for the mother's nipple to nurse. Within 2 hours the baby is able to walk. The baby will nurse for at least 2 years, and possibly 3-4. Grazing begins at 2 years as well.
A Spray of Clay
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 11, 2019: Spraying oneself with clay is one of the great pleasures in life for an elephant.
Clay Bath Time
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 11,2019: After taking a mudbath, elephants enjoy spraying themselves with clay. for protection against sunburn and insects.
Clay Spray
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 11,2019: An elephant sprays clay over her back for protection against pests and sunburn.
"Now watch how I do this".
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 11, 2019: An elephant positions herself over a termite mound while a younger one watches in Tarangire National Park. Elephants use the termite mound dust for protection against insects and sunburn.
Ohhh, This Feels Sooo Good!
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 11,2019: This elephant rubs her belly against a termite mound in Tarangire National Park. Elephants use the termite mound dust for protection against insects and sunburn.
Straddling the Termite Mound
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 11,2019: An elephant lifts her rear leg over the termite mound in Tarangire National Park. Elephants use the termite mound dust for protection against insects and sunburn.
Refreshed After Ablutions
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 11, 2019: These elephants seem to have a smile on their face as they leave the termite mound after their mud bath and clay spray session. Elephants use the mud baths and termite mound dust for protection against insects and sunburn.2
Elephant Drinking Water
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 11,2019: A young elephant takes a sip of water as the egret watches his back.
Clay Spray
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 11,2019: these young elephants are learning how to use the clay dust to protect their hides from insects and sunburn. You can see this guy snorting the clay through his trunk.
A Cyclone of Clay Spray
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 11, 2019: In this 2nd image, one can see the beginnings of the clay spray over his back. It looks like a mini-cyclone as he blows the clay dust from his trunk.
Final Clay Blast
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 11, 2019: In this 3rd image, the young elephant lands the final blast of clay over his back.
Like Kids in a Sandbox
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 11, 2019: Like kids in a sandbox, these elephants love playing in the clay termite mounds.
High Alert
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 12, 2019: This matriarch announces her presence as we drive down the road that she is about to cross with her herd.
Announcing Intent
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 12,2019: The herd bands together, forming a solid line while protecting their young calf as they proceed forward with the intent to cross the road. The matriarch, her trunk held high, loudly trumpets their forward intention.
Baby Elephant Crosses the Swamp
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 13, 2019: A baby elephant appears to hang on to its mother's tail as it crosses the water in the swamp.
It's a Family Affair
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 13,2019: Making sure the babies get across the swamp is a matter of concern for all members of this herd. These two babies are sandwiched in between the adults for safety.
Elephant Calves Struggle Through Deep Water
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 13,2019: Two baby elephants struggle through the deep water of the swamp with two adults close behind to make sure they are safe.
An Impressionistic View of Elephants in a Semi-circle
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 13,2019: This was a common sight in Tanzania. Elephants often congregated under a tree, fanning out in a semi-circle, to rest and cool down from the African heat.
Elephants in a Semi-circle B&W
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 13,2019: This was a common sight in Tanzania. Elephants often congregated under a tree, fanning out in a semi-circle, to cool down and rest from the African heat.
3 Elephants
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 13,2019: 3 elephants approach our truck with intent to cross the road. The matriarch has just one tusk, so I'll call her One Tusk.
One Tusk and Her Offspring Up Close
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 13,2019: The 3 elephants come right up to our truck, eyeing us closely to see if we are a threat. My lens is not zoomed, these elephants are right in front of us. My guess is this is a mother with her new calf and an older sibling, maybe 3-5 years of age.
One Tusk Gives Us the Eye
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 13,2019: One Tusk watches us closely as she leads her young in front of our truck to cross the road. My lens is not zoomed at all. She is directly in front of our vehicle.
Splish Splash
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 13,2019: Young elephants enjoy a shower in the Tarangire Swamp.
Splish Splash, Elephants Taking a Bath
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 13,2019: Fun in the swamp for these young elephants.
Scrub a Dub Dub Behind the Ears
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 13,2019: This elephant appears to be carefully washing behind the ears.
Mud Bath Time
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 13,2019: Mud baths for mama and baby, one of life's pleasures in the elephant world.
Mudding & Sunning
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 13,2019: Mama elephant lies down for a sunbath after her mudbath. Baby stays close to her side.
Mama - Get Up...
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 13,2019: Mama just wants a rest in the mud and sun, but baby is worried and tries to rouse her up.
Worried For Mom
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 13, 2019: Baby continues to nudge mama, showing signs of affection and concern. Just so you know, mama does rise and all turns out well.
Elephant Matriarch Up Close
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 13,2019: An elephant matriarch watches us carefully as she crosses the road. The vertical line in the image is the radio antenna of our truck which shows just how close she is. My lens is not zoomed at all. She is directly in front of our vehicle.
Young Elephant Passing By
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 13,2019: A young elephant passes right in front of our vehicle, so close that my lens can't take in the entire scene. You can see the radio antenna on the left hand side of the image.
Baby Follows Mama
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 13, 2019: Baby follows mama across the road. This young calf is probably a yearling, as there are no tusks showing. Tusks begin to appear around 2-3 years of age.
Portrait of a Young Bull Elephant in Black & White
MANYARA NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 14, 2019: A young bull elephant peers out from the brush in Lake Manyara National Park.
Portrait of a Young Bull Elephant
LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA, AFRICA- August 14, 2019: A batchelor bull elephant peers out from the bushes.
Old Bull
NGORONGORO CRATER, TANZANIA, AFRICA - August 15,2019: An old bull elephant stands alone in the Ngorongoro Crater.
Dancing a Jig
SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA - August 18, 2019 : A young elephant appears to be dancing a little jig in the Serengeti National Park.
Elephant Cow & Calf
SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA - August 18, 2019: An elephant cow and her calf walk through Serengeti National Park.