Couple Lounging By Pool Got Visited By Three Thirsty Elephants

Jul 31, 2021

While everyone has had the experience of a squirrel, pigeon or seagull coming up to them while relaxing in the park or on the beach, one startled couple was greeted by a far larger group of visitors during their vacation in 2018. On Aug. 1, 2018, a pair of lovebirds were lounging next to the pool while on vacation in South Africa at Kruger National Park. Suddenly, a herd of elephants appeared. The three elephants, the largest land mammals on planet earth, proceeded to walk up to the pool, with some taking a drink with their long trunks. The startled tourists didn’t dare move an inch; instead, they lay frozen on their lounge chairs as the elephants continued to explore their new surroundings.

If a group of elephants is likely to visit you poolside, it’s likely to be at Kruger National Park — one of the largest nature preserves in Africa. Covering an area of more than 7,500 square miles, the park is home to Africa’s “Big Five,” which includes Elephants, Lions, Rhinos, Leopards and Buffalos.

Thanks to the national park’s efforts, the South African elephant population has grown from an estimated 120 in 1920 to 10,000 as of today, according to Kruger’s website.

Elephants are beloved gentle giants who always seem to fascinate humans with their behavior. This is because elephants are extremely intelligent and can often surprise us with their clever thinking. As this story out of South Africa shows, despite their large size, elephants aren’t always dangerous. Rather, they’re curious creatures who deserve to be protected from poachers as Kruger National Park does.

“We were absolutely amazed by what was happening,” the person who recorded the video said, according to the Daily Mail.

“The elephants did not seem bothered by the presence of the people and casually continued to drink water out of the pool. One of the most amusing sights we have seen in a long time,” the videographer added.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reports that African elephants are the largest mammals on earth. African elephants reach their full size at age 35 to 40 and can live to be 60 to 70 years old. They weigh 3 to 7 tons when full-grown. The way to tell the difference between African and Asian elephants is by the size of their ears; African elephants have much larger ears.

Elephant trunks have incredible abilities that make elephants unique from other mammals. The trunk has 150,000 muscle units, making elephants extremely dexterous despite their size. An elephant’s trunk can also hold up to 8 liters of water, which they then can drink or spray on themselves to keep cool. Elephants can also use their trunks as a snorkel when they go underwater. 

WWF also reports that an elephant’s tusks are actually large incisor teeth. The tusks begin to appear when an elephant is 2 years old, and they continue to grow throughout their lives. Tusks are used to dig up roots or scrape bark off of trees for eating, although they can also be used as a defense when an elephant gets into a fight. Unfortunately, because elephant tusks are made from ivory, they are at a high risk for poaching.

What do you think of this video? How would you have felt if a group of elephants suddenly appeared? Let us know — and be sure to pass this on.