A group of African elephants in a savanna landscape with dry grasses and sparse trees under a clear blue sky, likely midday. 5:59
HERD Elephant Orphanage South Africa channel icon HERD Elephant Orphanage South AfricaOriginal creator 81K views Save

Sand bath time for two elephant friends

Khanyisa doesn't bother standing up for her sand bath. She lies down on her side in the dirt, and Kumbura, her big companion, stays close. more

The two live in South Africa, where Adine, often called the Elephant Whisperer, and her team of carers look after the herd. The ground is dry and the sky is clear, and there's plenty of dirt to go around.

A large elephant stands close to the camera with its trunk lowered in a dry, grassy field under a clear sky. A headline runs in white letters across the lower third.Save
Out on the dry grass, a big elephant from the herd comes up close.

From down there, Khanyisa gets to work, dusting herself with sand until she's coated in it. One fan said she looked like a sugar-coated bun.

Then an itch sets in. Her little legs go to work on it, rubbing fast.

Kumbura shares the dirt and stands by her through all of it, calm and gentle. She always seems to know where Khanyisa is, and it's easy to see how safe the younger elephant feels next to her.

A group of African elephants in a savanna landscape with dry grasses and sparse trees under a clear blue sky, likely midday. The headline runs in white letters across the lower third.Save
Khanyisa doesn't bother standing up for her sand bath.

Up she pops, out of the sand, and on her feet you can see how much she has grown. She's not the little calf she was. Her tusks are growing too.

Lundi, another member of the herd, comes hurrying over to check on the young ones. Lundi often rushes in like this when the youngsters are at play, keeping a lookout for the whole family.

An adult elephant stands in dry grass under a clear blue sky with its trunk lowered. A headline runs in white letters across the lower third.Save
The grown-ups of the herd keep an eye on the young ones.

She's still young, though, young enough to lie down in the dirt for a good dust bath. And Kumbura is still right there next to her.

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