White Ghosts: Chalky Elephants Bathe In Mud During Hot Summer

The unusual-looking elephants spent the hot day splashing themselves in the muddy water.

Once the moisture dried, a residue of dry white calcite sand and white clay covered their leathery skin.

Felix Reinders, 30, from South Africa, captured the famous ‘white ghosts’ of Etosha National Park in September last year.

During the summer months the large creatures flock to the watering holes to cool themselves with the cold water. Industrial engineer Felix said he was thrilled to capture the giant animals' undergoing their makeover.

He said: “To photograph the iconic 'white' elephants of Etosha and capturing their interaction with each other at the waterhole was amazing.

“The big Etosha elephant bulls come from all different directions to the Nebrownii waterhole, usually at 11am in the mornings, and then will spent the whole afternoon there bathing till late.

“It is almost like their social appointment meeting at the bar.

They stand against each other or spraying each other with water. “Some of them will stand and just sleep next to the waterhole.

“Then there is a local black rhino that also wants a sip of the water but the elephant bulls don’t like this visitor to their bar.”