BY Sofia Tosolari
July 9th, 2008
Having a monstrosity of a male attracted to the female elephant I was riding certainly made for some boisterous excitement at the Knysna elephant park.
My first ‘proper’ interaction came at about 4.30pm, when I hopped onto Sally for a ride….
The day’s elephant experience had begun with a lecture and video, explaining the workings of the park, how the elephants had come to be there, and the usual rules and regs.
Getting ready to ride
Then it was off into the bright afternoon to experience them first- hand. The next thing I knew, I was straddled across this beast; increasingly fearful of the monstrosity of a male behind me, whom all the workers fondly referred to as Harry.
Harry, as it turned out, had smelt one of the females about half a kilometre away, and seriously wanted some action...
But his satisfaction would only come later, and soon Sipho the elephant rider delivered me safely onto the platform of the ‘elephant lounge’.
Beautifully natural in its design, the ‘elephant lounge’ is where we then spent the remainder of the evening; snacking on oysters and tasting most delectable wines.
With lemon juice and Tabasco sauce, I sampled my first oyster - there after I could not be stopped!
With the cold finally creeping in, it was then off to our boma for the night.
Sleeping with giants
The surprise: we would be sharing our accommodation with all nine ellies.
Built within the elephant boma, our six rooms faced the elephants’ enclosure, and with comfortable sofas facing their sleeping quarters; they soon transformed into our evening’s entertainment.
Dirty Harry
In store: a walk around the park; and a close-up into the ellies’ natural habitat.
What I found most intriguing about these creatures was the fact that their every move and gesture was both entirely predictable, as well as ‘explainable’.
Our expert and guide, who knew know each by name, would firstly pre-empt their moves, and then explain the psychology behind it. But the most intriguing part of our park-meander: when Harry decided to mount!
The mating process, an act usually never witnessed and therefore unique in its rarity; was phenomenal; and needless to say, took a due amount of time.
Cutting to the chase
The proceedings: Harry sniffed around the female’s enclosure, was finally allowed inside, and then came ‘the chase’. With Harry charging ‘full tilt’, and ready for action, it was needless to say, "no conservative sight!"
The cameras clicked furiously!
Then, when the deed was done, the rest of the herd came rushing in, trumpeting in unison as if thoroughly indignant at the whole proceeding.
While encircling the couple, the other females in the group then proceeded to herd the solitary baby away from the whole ordeal; an enforced age-restriction it seemed.
What were we doing? Standing enthralled, mouths open at what appeared to be a most uncomfortable unfolding of events.
Viewing one-another’s photos later, we could only grimace…
However, we agreed in unison that our elephant experience had been most enjoyable, and although in the middle of a game-park; luxurious indeed.
With five-star rooms, food and service; the Knysna Elephant Park has some mammoth holiday fun on offer.
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