The March of the Bornean Elephants
Trip Start
Jul 12, 2011
1
15
18
Trip End
Sep 13, 2011
Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
Thursday, August 4, 2011
We bristle with anticipation in our bright orange lifejackets. Monty and Gwen, a delightful middle-aged welsh couple who have taken us under their wing, chatter away to us about what we might see - crocodiles, monkeys and plenty of birds.
But we are interrupted by a rustle in the bushes alongside the river. Then an elephant appears. And just as quickly dissapears again. Me and Megan "ooh in unison" and grab each other's hands. Bernard, the obnxious Spaniard at the front of the boat says "shhhh" unnecessarily loudly. Vort, the chirpy young dutch guy, grins.
As we carry on up the river, we happen upon a lodge with ten or so boats moored at it. People are excitedly disembraking, cameras te the ready. We follow the eager crowd and thats then we see them - a herd of around 15 elephants grazing calmly in a clearing. It is stunning. They are so big.
And powerful. When the head male comes towards is with his tusk in the air I run away, over-awed by the strength and size of him.
It is undoubtedly a cliche uttered by many a nature tourist before me, but having seen these animals doing what they do in their natural habitat, I vow never to visit another one in a zoo.
