A surprising moment was caught on camera when a massive elephant decided to take a brief rest at a café near a safari camp in Zambia.
Simone Ruf, who witnessed the event, quickly captured a photo of the elephant at the Flatdogs Camp in South Luangwa National Park, where she works.
The elephant, weighing up to three tons, appeared to be taking a break but seemed unimpressed with the café’s service.
After a short rest, the elephant-headed back into the wild, accidentally snapping one of the table umbrella spokes on its way out.
Ms. Ruf, who was alone then, shared her disbelief at the scene, noting that the elephant first moved the umbrella around before sitting on the table as if it were a seat. She described the elephant’s behavior as mischievous.
Elephants are a common sight in South Luangwa National Park, a renowned wildlife sanctuary often referred to by locals as “the South Park.”
In addition to elephants, the park is home to large populations of Thornicroft’s giraffe and African buffalo, sometimes numbering in the hundreds.
Founded as a game reserve in 1938, South Luangwa National Park has since become one of Africa’s most famous national parks, covering 9,050 square kilometers and known for its walking safaris.
Despite its protection, the park’s elephant population has faced significant challenges throughout history.
This amusing encounter comes as the Natural History Museum in London invites the public to vote for their favorite image highlighting important nature stories from around the world in this year’s People’s Choice Award.
The shortlisted images include a variety of scenes, from lionesses grooming a cub to a fox making a home in a London bin, among others.