African Savanna Elephants (Loxodonta africana) love water – not only to drink, but also to play in, and to cool off on hot days , either by submerging if the water is deep enough, or by spraying themselves with trunkfuls of it. This large herd of more than 30 elephants had been feeding in the woodland on the bank of the Mphongolo River in Kruger National Park. As the day got hotter small groups of elephants made their way to pools in the sandy riverbed to drink, spray themselves with water and play. Some elephants, particularly young ones, rushed down the sandy riverbank, eager to get to the water. Older elephants were calmer, standing in the water to drink or to spray themselves with their trunks. Meanwhile, young elephants played, some almost becoming bogged while others flopped down on their sides in the mud. After 20 minutes the herd suddenly departed, walking along the dry riverbed as two Bee-eaters and a Glossy Starling watched them from a nearby tree.