M’Pofo Goes Swimming

It was a swelteringly hot summer’s day. All the animals were sweating in the heat. So mostly, they sat and relaxed in the shade. Some of them loved this weather, however. It made Havubu, the hippo’s day much better, as she had many friends visiting her at the waterhole.

M’Pofo was sitting on the bank watching Havubu as she paddled lazily in the refreshingly cool water. “Do you think you could teach me how to swim, Havubu? I’m afraid to go in deeper than where I can stand.”

“Well, you see,” said Havubu in her low, deep voice, “it is all about your technique. You’re large like me, so you should float well. So why don’t you come in and try it? I’ll show you what to do.”

The young elephant was excited and soon stood up to his ankles in the water. Then, all the other animals gathered on the banks to watch the swimming lesson.

“Now, M’Pofo, the coolest water is where it is a bit deeper. But you probably won’t be able to stand there. So anyway, walk towards me slowly.”

A few hesitant steps later, M’Pofo suddenly started to float. He almost panicked, but Havubu was beside him, “Start moving all your feet together, first the left side, then the right side. Repeat that, and you’ll be swimming by yourself.”

M’Pofo did just as Havubu told him, and soon, he was swimming very well. First, he swam from one side of the small lake to the other. Next, Havubu told M’Pofo, “Elephants can swim underwater, using their trunks like snorkels to breathe. So why don’t you give it a try?”

Carefully, M’Pofo put his head underwater and raised his trunk. Then, finally, he was able to breathe normally! He saw all kinds of colourful fish and delicate plants. So naturally, the elephant wanted to taste the plants and decided to nibble on one of them. But as soon as he opened his mouth to take a bite, it filled with water.

Coughing and spluttering, M’Pofo splashed up out of the water again. Havubu patted him on his back, and in a few moments, M’Pofo was fine again.

M’Pofo called out to his friends, “Join Havubu and me. It is so lovely and cool in the water!”

Well, the friends didn’t need to be asked twice. Soon there was plenty of splashing in the shallows. Finally, a few braver animals ventured into deeper water under Havubu’s careful guidance.

The noisy animals woke Ngwenya, the crocodile, from her Middagslaapie in the sunshine on the lake bank. Then, grumpily, she shouted, “Stop all that racket. I’m trying to sleep here!”

All the animals hushed and stopped splashing, trying to figure out who was so upset. Havubu, who was always in the lake, knew how irritable Ngwenya could be. “Now, Ngwenya, why don’t you join us instead of being a spoilsport?” she asked politely.

Ngwenya was surprised because no one usually invited her to take part in anything. But, since the others didn’t want to stop playing, they all encouraged her to join them. So, she slid into the water and splashed around with her tail. M’Pofo squirted water over her with his trunk, taking Ngwenya entirely by surprise!

In no time at all, the animals were all splashing each other and having a wonderful time. Only as the sun started to set did they realise how long they’d played together. Then, finally, M’Pofo said to them, “Friends, I think our first swimming lesson was successful. Should we do it again next week?”

Even Ngwenya was happy with the idea of a group swimming lesson and joined in the chorus with a cheerful “Yes.” Then, slowly, the animals returned to their homes, content with a beautiful day at the lake.

So, little one, learning to swim is essential, but knowing what to do when you are out of your depth is also important.