African Safari in Kenya : An Elephant Born in the Kenyan Wild

Amboseli National Park covers 3,100 square miles across the Kenya-Tanzania border. The park is well known for being the best tourist spot in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants.

Elephants have a gestation period of up to 22 months and because of their massive body, it’s not easy to tell when an elephant is pregnant and when it’s due. That is why according to Paolo the photographer who witnessed this phenomenon ‘It was incredible, because to witness the birth of an elephant in the wild is almost impossible. He adds ‘This is because it is impossible to predict the exact moment

This is what Paolo says, when it comes to bodyguards, you really couldn't do much better than these guys.

Paolo further said: ‘We observed an unusual tight congregation. ‘All those elephants were in high agitation, seriously nervous, and closing the formation shoulder to shoulder. ‘A strong wall of muscles and tusks that can scare any kind of other animal. ‘This is the formation they are normally taking in only two cases: under attack by predators like lions, or during the birth of a new elephant.’
The defensive group gathered around the mother, scratching the soil with their gigantic feet and closing any gap between them to block the view of any potential predators. Paola further accounts ‘At about 7:30 am the elephants started trumpeting as though they were welcoming the new arrival,’
‘Five minutes later we had the first glimpse of the new born between the legs of the giant animals.’
Moments after the birth, the calf could be seen clutching the tusk of an adult with its trunk as it staggered to its feet for the very first time.

Huddled shoulder to shoulder in close formation, the elephants began thrusting mud around, it is believed, to put off predators off the scent of blood.

‘All the elephants were very, very, exited, and were digging the soil with the tusks and feet,’ said Paolo.

‘Also they were throwing grass and soil all over in an attempt , I can only suppose, to hide the smell of the blood and the placenta, and confuse possible predators.’


Creating an impenetrable wall around the calf, the adults, which included other females, attempted to help the youngster to its feet.’ It was amazing to observe the unity of the family, with all the other female trying to help the new born,‘At 8:15 am, almost one hour after birth, finally the new born elephant stood up with his mother and got a deserved dose of milk!’
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