Mammals of Southern Africa
Male Elephants Playing in the River
Whilst on a boat safari in Liwonde National Park, Malawi, we spotted these two elephant bulls testing each other in the river. Over the years, I have witnessed this behaviour several times. The elephants are not fighting. They are establishing who is the strongest.
I used my 500mm lens on a monopod to take the picture.
The end of the dry season is a great time to see the elephants in the Shire river as all the natural waterholes inside the Park and away from the river have dried up.
Date: 14/11/2004
Location: Liwonde Ntional Park, Malawi
Photographer: Arnaud Germain
