Here at Mabula we pride ourselves with beatful sightings of elephants. The beautiful textures and details of an elephant’s protective layer are always fascinating to admire. Hidden beneath the surface, there is more than meets the eye, and we’re going to share some secrets about why an elephant’s skin is so important to their survival so on your next safari you can look for these features yourself.
An elephant’s skin can weigh as much as 1000kg, and can be as thick as an inch (on its back) or as thin as 1/10 of an inch (ears and mouth). Despite its rough and dry appearance, the skin is delicate and may be soft to the touch. To cool down, elephants will spray mud or water behind their ears.
This allows the circulating blood to cool down faster as an elephant can pump all its blood through its ears every 20 minutes. The skin colour of an elephant will change depending on the colour of the mud and sand used on their bodies.
An elephant’s stomach area needs extra support to hold the weight of its organs, which means these creatures have a fibroelastic sheet of muscles that span their stomach area.
Elephant skin is designed to protect them from the rough conditions of the African bushveld, such as the scorching sun, the dry climate, and the sharp thorns on the trees from which they feed. Their skin serves as their outer protection and performs the vital role of keeping them cool.
Humans have sweat glands throughout their skin, whereas elephants have very few, which are located on the feet, near the cuticles. This results in skin that is dry to the touch but soft and supple. If you look at an elephant on a hot day, you may see a wet area around the top of their toenails.
Although an elephant’s skin is thick, the blood vessels and nerves are relatively close to the surface, and they have few sweat glands for heat dissipation. This is where dusting and mudding helps to protect the skin from the sun and insects, assists with temperature regulation, and encourages the shedding of dead skin cells.
Elephant skin lacks moisture, so it must be loose, especially around the joints, to provide the necessary flexibility for motion. The wrinkles in an elephant’s skin help to retain external moisture, keeping the skin in good condition.
An elephant usually appears to be the same colour as the soil where it lives, but its natural skin colour is greyish-black. This is because elephants take frequent mud baths or dust themselves with soil to protect against insects and the heat of the sun. The dust disturbs biting insects living in the nether regions of an elephant’s body and provides a protective layer on the skin shielding it from the sun’s rays.
When we enter the drier and colder months of the year, elephants exchange mud wallowing for dust bathing. Due to water holes drying up and dusty areas increasing around the reserve, elephants prefer to use dust as a temperature and insect control mechanism. Dusting is also considered a comfort behaviour and is often performed after bathing, during social situations, and when elephants are anxious.
Elephants are also able to cool down by increasing the blood flow to skin patches in other parts of their bodies. This is a fascinating and adds to the many reasons why I love spending time with these majestic creatures.
Driving out of the lodge first thing in the morning is always filled with excitement. You are setting out on an endeavour to discover what activity has unfolded during the course of the evening, armed with a hot water bottle, a fluffy fleece blanket, poncho and adrenaline to keep you warm on a chilly winter’s morning.
Before you know it you are in the company of the full complement of the Lake Kyle Pride strolling on the road, either going to the waterhole, busy hunting or feasting on the kill that they have made. There are few better ways to start off your day out here at Kingfisher Villa Suites.
We followed them all the way to Lake Kyle dam where they begun to drink water, and watched youngsters playing around.
A lion pride is not just a casual group of lions, it is a complex social unit that relies on cooperation, hierarchy, and deep relationships. Cub upbringing is a collective effort in a lion pride. When a lioness gives birth to cubs, the other members of the pride, including her sisters and the dominant males, participate in the care and protection of the young ones.
But since female lions often give birth at the same time, they tend to prioritize their cubs, followed by cubs of their closest relatives. Still, communal cub rearing plays a critical role in protecting their offspring against infanticide. Lionesses display exceptional maternal care, nursing their cubs and teaching them essential survival skills. Cubs learn to stalk, pounce, and hunt through playful interactions with each other, while perfecting their predatory instincts.
On the Mabula reserve we can gladly report that we have had a 100% survival rate to date, on cubs being born here. A lioness’s early education is vital to the future adult hunters and protectors of the pride. When male cubs become sub-adults at around 2 yearsold, they get kicked out and leave the pride and attempt to take over another male’s pride. If they succeed, it’s not uncommon for them to kill all the cubs in the new pride so that the future cubs bear their genes.
lions’ complex society, built on cooperation, loyalty, and fierce protection, resonates with us in great ways. Their profound connections mirror human family ties. Humans, like lions, work together to ensure the well-being of their loved ones. In the face of adversity, we stand as a united front, facing challenges head-on. Lionesses teach their cubs valuable survival skills, while parents in our world impart knowledge, wisdom, and love to the younger generation.
Lion prides demonstrate that in the animal kingdom, as in our own lives, unity and the bonds of family are a source of strength and the foundation of a fulfilling and meaningful existence. The resounding lesson from the Mabula reserve, is that family, whether in the world of lions or among humans, is a beacon of love, support, and unity that transcends species. I for the one am very proud to be part of the family at Kingfisher Villa Suites.
As a guide, it is an incredible privelege witnessing these cubs grow before our eyes, and they continuously teach us very important lessons about family bonds. If you would love to experience the awe-inspiring beauty and grace of lions up close, visit Kingfisher Villa Suites for the safari experience of a lifetime.
We are delighted to announce a new partnership with Wild Earth TV Our collaboration promises life-changing travel adventures, with a filming team going live daily, bringing you closer to the action than ever before. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see our exciting new Virtual Safaris, designed to transport you right into the heart of the African wilderness from the comfort of your home.
Until next time…
From Isaiah Banda & Mabula family.
Safari Greetings.