During the last few days light rains have provided a welcome respite from the heat in Samburu. However this has meant that the river has become swollen with rainwater, and although it has not risen much (nothing compared to March’s floods anyway), it is somewhat deeper.
Elephants, calves in particular, often struggle to make the crossing. They lose their footing and fall over in a tangle of limbs, tusks and trunks. Luckily other members of their family are soon at hand to help them back up, and complete the crossing. Smaller calves find themselves completely submerged, and need to swim, whilst using their raised trunks to breathe, whilst their mothers guide them in the right direction.