This elephant is proving that you are never too big to bounce in the mud as it tries to pull its whole body.
He doesn’t let his 13ft height get in the way as he rolls around and plays happily in the mad bath – as an African photographer captured the incredible scenes in a game reserve in the South Phishing with a camera.
The full-grown bull used his full weight to create massive splashes almost as large as him in order to completely cover himself.
But it’s not just fun. Elephants use mud to cool their skin and protect them from parasites and their skin from the strong UV rays of the hot sun.
Photographer Anette Mossbacher said the elephant spent about half an hour languishing in the mud before wiping his ears and eyes with his trunk.
The 52-year-old man, from Germany but living in Bergdietikon, Switzerland, spotted two male elephants approaching the mud holes in Madikwe and decided to follow them.
She said: ‘It was fun to watch this elephant enjoy his mud bath.
‘When I saw him enjoying it, I thought if he weren’t so big I could join in. When it’s good for the elephant, it can also be for us humans.
‘There were large jets of water almost as tall as his body. He splashed with all four of his legs, one after the other to cover his tummy as much as possible.
‘The elephant was making a bit of noise but he was busier with mud all over his body.
‘The elephant looked so happy and it even has a smile on his face, or at least we can call it that!
‘After stopping, he suddenly realized that we were following him there and he charged us to go a few meters, but instead he decided to walk up to his friend, who was still bathing – sad behind the bushes and out of sight.’
‘He was sinking into the mud bath, first lying down for a little while and just moving his head sideways a few times
