Day 15: Reluctant Departure

 One more early morning: 5:15 departure with all of our luggage to visit the elephants on the way to the airport. I LOVE the elephant interaction at Hoedspruit Elephant Rescue (HERD)! We saw one last stunning African sunrise…




I hope to use these colors on my pottery pieces!

The females of the herd going out for the day. They are free in an enormous reserve, but their handlers remain with them as they roam, to ensure their safety and that they don’t break fences or disturb humans.

This is Sebakwe. He is the oldest and most famous elephant on the reserve. He has appeared in multiple ads, and on television and in movies!

Kailey feeds Sebakwe alfalfa pellets

Eleanor drops pellets into the end of his trunk

And Lucia

And Ivy

And Cecilie

And me

Zebras

And warthogs want their share, too!




Feeding Molopane, a younger bull









Jabulani  is the youngest of the 3 elephants we interacted with. He is quite playful, but always careful of us small creatures.









Then off to breakfast, and to the airport. Although Kailey and Eleanor had an earlier flight from Hoedspruit to Johannesburg, we met up in OR Tambo to fly to London, then Chicago together. I’m not exactly looking forward to the long haul back, followed by the drive from Chicago, but it will be fine and we will be home eventually! My own bed with my own cat!!!

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