April 7, 2025
Sorry no photos today for two reasons: First, while I did see elephants on the highway, I followed elephant etiquette and did not stop to photograph them. Second, where we are staying tonight barely has Internet access and I ill be lucky to just upload this post.
The elephant highway did not disappoint and was worth the 150 kilometer ride that took me past them. The first elephant was just crossing the highway about 500 metres in front of me. It was a swift elephant glimpse and gone. The second sighting came neat the end of the ride and was a perfect photo opportunity if I were not on a bicycle. There was a pool of warter about 200 metres from the road with a cow and a calf playing it the water. Another large elephant stood watch nearby. It was a perfect but one that I will have to hold only in my memory.
Tonight we are staying at Elephant Sands, a rustic lodge with cabins and campsites about two kilometres off the highway down a soft sand road. After 150 kilometres of riding in the burning sun you can imagine my everlasting joy at having to push my bike through loose sand. However, Elephant Sands’ motto is, “Where Elephants Rule.” The owner has drilled a bore hole to pump fresh water to fill a pond which the elephants will travel miles to visit. Surface water in these parts is salty and while the elephants will drink it, like us they prefer it fresh. The result is a campsite that becomes an elephant watering hole after dark. We are told the will wander between our tents but they are only interested in the water and will leave us alone. However, our bicycles are a different matter. If left alone away from the tents, we are told the human scent attached to the bike sometimes causes the elephant to express its displeasure by bashing it to bits. Why this is not also true for our tents is something that will be on my mind as i go to sleep this evening.