San Jep and Mario's mud bath
San Jep and Mario's mud bath
By Brittany, USA
It was my week one, the first time
I had ever seen an elephant and the big wrinkly fellas didn’t disappoint. We trekked
up a few hills and wove down a couple paths and BAM there they were: elephants.
Mario and San Jep were excited to see us, well in actuality they were excited
to see the bananas we brought. We went two at a time feeding the eager momma
and baby the bananas and we were overjoyed by our first elephant experience.
Banana stores depleted, we sat down to observe the pair but Mario was having
none of it. He continually attempted to come over and inspect us, probably
assuming that we were holding out on him because we still smelled like the
bananas. Eventually Old Chief, their mahout, got Mario to back off and mother
and child made their way to a muddy little clearing. What we then observed was
a volunteers dream!
San Jep decided that she fancied a
mud bath and she plowed head first into the muck and mire. A full blown
elephant water party ensued when Mario decided to join in. Our group of
volunteers frantically snapped photos and whipped out the video cameras while
Old Chief sat, nonplussed, smoking a banana leaf cigar. As volunteers, we are
supposed to hang back and observe the elephants from a distance but we usually
move away from them rather reluctantly.
This hike was an exception. When San Jep and Mario finished with their
mud bath they decided to come say hello and the volunteers booked it out of the
way. Nobody wanted to get drenched in mud by a cheeky baby elephant. We
finished our perfect day with a lovely hike through the forest and a good
natured bit of bragging back at base hut. Now we all have fantastic photos and
memories that will last a life time.
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