Elephants are typically seen moving with a calm, graceful stride across Africa’s plains, but one young calf at Kruger National Park added a burst of energy to its routine, putting on an unexpected “breakdancing” performance for onlookers.
South African photographer Graeme Mitchley, 43, captured the playful moment while visiting the park.
The baby elephant, part of a herd traveling along the main road to the Lower Sabie rest camp, appeared unimpressed by Mitchley’s presence and attempted to show its dominance unusually—through a series of energetic, dance-like moves.
“The elephant looked like it was dancing just for me, which added a lot of fun to my trip,” Mitchley shared.
“The road was busy with other tourists, so I couldn’t move much, but I could tell the elephant wasn’t thrilled about me being there.”
He continued, “This little one tried to intimidate me with its antics. If it had been an older elephant, I would have left right away. Young elephants often more bark than bite, flapping their ears and shaking their heads to make a point. I wasn’t quite sure if this one was warning me or just showing off, but it was definitely entertaining.”
The series of amusing photos were taken along the H4-1 road in Kruger National Park, which connects Skukuza and Lower Sabie, two of the park’s largest camps.
Kruger is one of Africa’s largest game reserves, drawing countless visitors eager to observe its diverse wildlife up close.
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