Here’s the incredible moment a herd of elephants surprised a group of tourists by taking a drink from the swimming pool of their luxury lodge.
When the animals arrived, the group was sitting on the patio for a meal at the nThambo Tree Farm in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Footage shows mothers and calves sucking on cool water as the temperature was nearly 37°C.
A withered bull can also be seen appearing from nowhere and barging one of the calves aside.
Carolynne Higgins, a guest, watching the action unfold, said: ‘We watched the herd drink from the small pool, and I realized we were part of something important.
‘At that point, I realized Africa had stolen a place in my heart.
‘There’s nothing more rewarding than watching a friendly herd socialize and interact near where humans are doing the same thing.
‘There is a dedicate divide between the human and animal worlds.’
nThambo Camp, which boasts ‘accommodation at eye level with the trees”, is open, and large predators are free to roam.
The elephants in the clip are just meters away from the wooden decking and sun loungers.
Brett Thomson, from Sun Destination, who runs the lodge, said: ‘It is clear from the way the bull pushes the calf out of the way, there is a social hierarchy involved.
‘If you look closely at the video, you’ll see a newborn calf stretching out over the pool’s edge to suck in water with its clumsy trunk.
‘In the background, you’ll see another herd approaching the pool.
‘With so many herds wanting a part of the action, the maintenance staff spent the next few days refilling the pool.”
