In Southern Africa water plays a vital role in the survival of animals. If it rains in the game reserves, water is available at most water holes and rivers and animals are able to spread out and manage to stay out of one another's way.
The opposite happens in the semi-arid areas and drier months. The surface water is restricted to fewer holes and pools and visitors can see attracted game coming to the water holes from far and wide. Now animals have to interact that otherwise choose not do so. Pecking orders are exercised and tolerance of other species becomes easier as they are forced to drink side by side.
The Etosha Park has many such water holes, some are located close to rest camps. Here one can easily spend as much as half a day (or night) to observe elephant mothers protecting their little ones from attacks by hyena, or zebra that are chased away by lion, etc, … |
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| Water holes - meeting places for animals |
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