Elephant cows are known for the excellent care they provide for their calves, as well as the calves of other cows in their herd. Their gestation period lasts for an average of 645 days ‒ in other words almost 22 months!

Two-V Productions’ André and Kate came across this scene in the Kruger National Park. A few young elephants gathered around a waterhole in the dry riverbed of Silolweni River near Tshokwane. The hole had been dug earlier by an adult to reach water. After some of the young ones had moved away, only a young cow and her very small calf remained. The baby elephant’s efforts to get to the water in the hole kept his mother quite busy.

Subscribe to Two-V Productions’ YouTube channel and follow their Facebook page [https://web.facebook.com/OpVlerke] please. Books in their Op Vlerke series can be ordered from Kraal Uitgewers [https://www.kraaluitgewers.co.za]. The books, which are only available in Afrikaans, can also be found at shops in rest camps of the Kruger National Park.