A group of tourists dining on the terrace at South Africa’s nThambo Tree Camp had an unexpected guest join them: a large elephant bull, casually stopping by to drink from the hotel swimming pool.
The elephant was captured on video during breakfast. It was first seen picking fruit from a nearby tree before approaching the pool.
As the tourists looked on, the elephant dipped its trunk into the water and began to drink, seemingly unfazed by its audience.
Brett Thomson, managing director of SunDestinations, which operates the camp, explained that the elephant was in musth—a natural state where male elephants experience increased aggression and sexual drive due to a surge in testosterone, up to 60 times the usual amount.
“He’s walking around, angry with the world and anything that moves,” Thomson said, adding that it’s common for elephants to visit the camp to drink from the pool, particularly bull elephants who enter musth seasonally.
Although guide Matt briefly worried the elephant might topple the camp’s fence, Thomson noted that guests generally appreciate seeing such powerful animals in their natural setting, even this close to the lodge.
