Day Seven: Elephant Whispers and Natal Spa

After the excitement of Kruger, the RHS thirst for wildlife remained unabated, as a total of 23 staff and students headed off to the wonderful 'Elephant Whispers', a sanctuary for rescued African elephants.  Not only were there the opportunities to learn about the anatomy and history of the elephant, but also to feed, pet and ride these extraordinary pachyderms.

One of the most astonishing facts that we learnt was that a fully grown elephant consumes roughly 350kg of grass and bamboo... Only marginally more than Mr Mann consumes at breakfast.

The elephants at Elephant Whispers,

excited about meeting the students from Holbrook's premier independent school.  

Colleen Clark, the Collingwood Matron, once again providing the motherly touch, this time to an elephant...

Worried at his lack of fibre, Sister Thompson prescribes a strepsil to an elephant!

Miss Smith, Emily Davidson-Brett, Sam Eminson and Katie Taylor

 hitch a lift back to Suffolk.

After the excitement of meeting the elephants, the whole group headed back to Natal Spa, either for some much-needed pampering or adrenaline fuelled water rides.

There was a hotly-contested Staff V Student Volleyball game; although there was some enthusiastic attempts at athleticism by the students, the red-hot favourites of the Staff inevitably won 11-4. 

Mr Thompson practising his daily yoga on the Natal Spa water flume.