During the peak of the dry season in the Kruger National Park, when day temperatures rise to over forty degrees Celsius, animal sightings at waterholes are at its best. During this time of the year, the African bush delivers more animal sightings at waterholes than any other time of the year. While on safari during this time of the year, we don’t drive around a lot in the bush looking for animals. Best approach for any safari during this time of the year is to sit at any waterhole and just watch the animals come and go.
It was during this hot and dry period of time that we were out on safari in the Kruger National Park. We responded to sighting at a large waterhole, where a pride of lions killed a buffalo the previous night. It was late morning and already stinking hot. We found most of the lions lying around the waterhole with full bellies. One young male took the opportunity to continue feeding on the last remains of the buffalo. Suddenly a dust cloud appeared over the ridge in the far distance. We quickly realized that it was a massive herd of elephants making their way to the waterhole. Knowing how temperamental elephants can become when they bump into predators they don’t like, I knew we were going to be in for some real action. I started filming the events that unfolded from there on. At first the lion was not aware of the elephants approaching. The elephants also didn’t know the lions were at the waterhole. It was not long though, before the lion turned around, taking note of the sounds coming from the approaching elephant herd. The elephant herd suddenly stopped as they all picked up the scent of the lion pride with their kill. Once both species became aware of each other’s presence, the action really started. The elephants looked hot, bothered and thirsty, and they were not going to let any lion get in their way of a well-deserved drink. This was where it became clear that size really does matter out in the African wild. The lions knew what was good for them and they started to get out the way very quickly. The lions were chased around by elephants coming in from all directions. The lions disappeared for a few minutes, away from the waterhole into the thickets, but then amazingly reappeared, sneaking their way back through the big elephant herd, back to their kill that was left unguarded. During our period of time spent at the waterhole, different herds of elephants kept coming and going, with lions being chased up and down the whole time. Eventually elephants stopped coming to the water and the lions settled in for their midday nap in the shade. Watching the two most formidable members of Africa’s Big 5 animals having a stand-off at a waterhole is absolutely priceless and not an everyday sight. After analyzing everything that we saw at the waterhole, we left with one crucial question in mind: Who is now really the King of the African savannah?