Elephants filmed at South African safari lodge

Making a splash! Thirsty bull elephant and calves play in swimming pool in stunning close-up footage filmed at South African safari lodge

  • Paul Andrew Schofield is general manager at the Bukela Game lodge 
  • He has been working with a family of elephants at the game reserve for a decade
  • The elephants enjoy the pool as it is the easiest source of water in the area 

This is the wonderful moment a herd of elephants splashed about in the guests’ pool at a South African game reserve. 

Paul Andrew Schofield, 34, general manager at the Bukela Game lodge on the Amakhala Game Reserve filmed the footage as the huge creatures came within feet of him. 

At first, a lone bull elephant emerges from the treeline and edges towards the high-sided plunge pool. 

Paul Andrew Schofield filmed the wonderful moment while reclining by a pool at Bukela Game lodge on the Amakhala Game Reserve

Initially, one large elephant emerged from the brush and began splashing in the pool 

After about a minute, several other elephants emerge from the brush and drink from the pool

After about a minute, several other elephants emerge from the brush and drink from the pool

The elephant takes a few moments before putting its trunk in the water and begins to drink. 

At the time, Mr Schofield was unaware the rest of the herd was nearby. 

After more than a minute, several calves and other adult elephants arrived from the bush and began splashing in the cooling water. 

Mr Schofield said he spent the past 10 years working in the game lodge during which time he was developed a great rapport with the elephant family, who are happy to approach when he is around – even allowing the calves to cool down at the pool. 

Mr Schofield said: ‘I felt quite touched that the herd felt safe enough to bring the youngsters so close to the pool while I was there, normally they are very protective and will keep youngsters away from any strange figure or being.

‘They thoroughly enjoyed the refreshment as it was a good 38 degrees Celsius, I feel they felt quite safe and where very relaxed drinking with my presence right there, almost to the point that they felt I had given them permission to do so.

‘I loved every minute of the behaviour they were exhibiting, full-on playing and elation is what I was experiencing whilst laying on the opposite side of the pool.’

It’s all the more impressive considering how things were before Mr Schofield started getting to work with the elephants.

Several calves joined the older elephants at the pool for a cooling drink

Several calves joined the older elephants at the pool for a cooling drink 

He said: ‘I have been working closely with this herd for the past decade as they had been behaving badly around the lodge and guests.

‘Not in any life-threatening way, just quite destructive due to their large proportions.

‘I have been instilling social cues and installing boundaries for the herd, just by being present and communicating our boundaries in a respectful manner.

‘Especially around the pools, I make sure I am around when they are there, to educate our guests but to also interact with the herd and show them when and how it’s okay to drink the water from the pools safely.’

Ms Schofield said the elephants are not harmed by the chlorine in the pool which keeps the water safe to swim in

Ms Schofield said the elephants are not harmed by the chlorine in the pool which keeps the water safe to swim in

Incredibly the elephants are spotted at the lodge every three to four days, enjoying their fill of water from the pool which is believed to be their best source of water in the area.

He said: ‘The chlorine does not harm the elephants in any way. They have a poor digestive system to start with and require a fair amount of water daily so any unnatural solutions in the pool water basically pass through their system without absorption.’

After having a drink, the elephants returned to the bush until they next feel thirsty

After having a drink, the elephants returned to the bush until they next feel thirsty