Elephants  

This isn’t a  topic you would expect to find on a blog written by someone who loves to feature design oriented destinations.  

But when you do your own blog you can change the theme. I’m doing that here. I hope you enjoy that I’m featuring elephants.

I’m fascinated with elephants. They are huge lumbering animals with gigantic ears  and flexible trunks. 

Last winter I had an opportunity see them up close and personal on Safari trip in Tanzania. 

The first and most exciting opportunity was early in the trip when our guide drove us around the Tarangire National Park. His vision and ability to sight wildlife was incredible. 

“I see elephants over there,” he calmly explained as I peered out the window trying to see what he could see. Yep, some dark smudges on the horizon. 

“They are probably heading to the water hole.” 

Off we went in our safari vehicle with the pop up top to the river bed he referred to. While we waited for the elephants  to appear we saw a group of baboons fighting it out.  Godwin explained that a stranger was trying to join the group and the other resisted.  

About the time they scampered off, the first elephant appeared. We watched in amazement as about 12 of these magnificent creatures lumbered on down to the water hole where they sat in the mud, using their trunks to spray mud water all over themselves.  

I learned the reason on a quick search on google.

Elephants spray muddy water on themselves as a vital survival habit. The wet mud acts as a natural sunscreen, a cooling system, and a shield against biting insects.

I had to laugh when one after another straddled a big rock and moved gently back and forth. Godwin explained that they were scratching their bellies. 

I became curious about elephants and reached out to AI on Google to learn five interesting facts about them. Here they are and I hope you enjoy the following images.  

Unique Elephant Facts

• Hearing with feet: Elephants pick up low-frequency ground vibrations through special cells in their feet to sense distant signals.

• Purring like cats: They make soft rumbling throat sounds when they feel happy and want to bond.

• No jumping allowed: They are the only mammal family on Earth that cannot physically jump off the ground.

• Mirror self-recognition: They can spot themselves in a mirror and test their own reflection, showing high intelligence.

• Trunk thumb-sucking: Young calves often suck on their long trunks just like human babies suck their thumbs for comfort. [1, 2]

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