The most popular attraction in any reserve has to be the elephants.  These enormous beasts move with a grace of motion the belies their apparent clumsiness.  As with all wild animals, assuming they are harmless is a good way to get into trouble.  A ranger told us the story of a large bull elephant who decided to visit Hilltop Camp (the main bush camp) in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve.  Breaking through the electrified fence, this beast proceeded to dine on trees and drink from the pools in the manicured guest area of the camp.  After it came back a second time, they used a helicopter to scare it away.  The bull was eventually captured and relocated to another part of the Reserve, but the ranger thinks it will find its way back.

Lone bulls (right) are typically ornery, having been cast out of their herds by a dominant male.  This particular one (in Kruger National Park) was huge.  The car in the photo was no more than 12 yards away, and it barely came up to the bottom of the elephant's stomach.

The following herds (left, below) are relatively small--less than two dozen each.  Both were also photographed at Kruger--on separate occasions.  Elephants go wherever they want and do not hesitate to cross the road, which makes for great photo ops.These herds were probably led by a single dominant male (probably the one in front).  In Hluhluwe-Umfolozi, we saw a "mating" herd of at least 75 elephants of all ages crossing a hill in the distance (It looks great on video, but was too far for a good photo).