Carina one of our new guides just returned from Zimbabwe Botswana Game Trail ZB16 and had the following to share with you... Coming from Kasane and having already seen a lot of elephants! The guests thought Elephant Sands is going to be just another place with more elephants. Though when we arrived at Elephant Sands the mood quickly changed, when they discovered that the camp was not fenced and the elephants are moving through the campsite on their way to the waterhole.
I explained to them that the slogan there is (Where elephants rule) and that they have to respect this as they are in the elephant’s home now. They quickly discovered that it’s true, when they wanted to go to the bar and restaurant area and had to wait for the elephants to pass before they could continue to their destination.
They come to the Lodge because of the salty water in the area, but management do provide them with fresh water at a man-made waterhole. Because of competition for water at this hole the younger ellies had to find and easier way to get fresh water. Elephant can smell the fresh water in the bathroom and they did find a way to the water source.
Later the afternoon when they were sitting around the campsite watching the elephants, we showed them how the elephants slowly manoeuvred their way over the spiny concrete obstacles that have been put there to discourage them from getting to the bathroom. After reaching the wall of the bathroom they just throw a trunk over, not thinking about the toilet goers, and slurp up all the water from the toilet.
They came a few times during the day to the bathroom, even early evening when the guests went for a shower. They came back telling us that no-one at home will believe what just happened to them. The elephants could hear and smell the shower water and came over to the bathroom wall standing next to the shower where they were having a shower and watched the water hoping that they will manage in getting a drink. (see bathroom below that is mentioned)
If you want an experience of a life-time you have to spent a night in this place, especially if you love animals because this is something that just happens if Africa. Be warned never be found without your camera because you might need prove that what have happened to you is true and not just a dream, because this is one unbelievable place.