A heartwarming video captured the moment two young elephants playfully approached a group of tourists on a safari at Kapama Private Game Reserve, located within Kruger National Park in South Africa’s Limpopo Province.
The delighted visitors watched from their vehicles as the curious elephant calves came close to them.
The video shows the first baby elephant running towards the safari vehicle with its trunk raised and ears spread wide, a typical elephant warning sign for charging.
However, it stopped short of accusing the vehicle. Shortly after, a second baby elephant joined, also stopping before reaching the tourists.
The playful duo eventually retreated and ran over to a larger elephant, who appeared to be their mother.
Ebenezer Rhode, a 29-year-old Kapama Private Game Reserve guide, filmed the endearing encounter on June 18.
Later, he shared it on his ‘Ranger Ebz’ Instagram page, where it garnered attention from wildlife enthusiasts.
In an exclusive interview with Zenger News, Ebenezer, a wildlife videographer from Mossel Bay in South Africa’s Western Cape, was assured that no tourists were at risk during the encounter.
He explained that they remained focused on the adult elephants in the group, and there was enough space to avoid being cornered by the elephants.
According to Ebenezer, young elephants often playfully mock charge vehicles to build confidence and get used to them. He emphasized that observing the animals’ behavior can provide insight into their intentions.
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