A group of baby elephants in South Africa learned that keeping up with the herd isn’t always easy, as they were caught in a series of comical struggles at the Madikwe Game Reserve.

The trio’s playful antics were captured by Kristoff Potgieter, a worker at the Etali Safari Lodge. While the herd approached a watering hole to cool off in the warm weather, the young elephants faced challenges navigating the muddy terrain and climbing out of the water.

Potgieter, 28, who shared the footage, described the scene as too charming to keep to himself. He focused on the three mischievous calves as they attempted to follow the group.

After cautiously waiting for an adult elephant to cross a muddy section, the youngsters ventured forward on their own.

But their adventure quickly turned into an obstacle course as they became stuck, blocking the path for other elephants.

One of the calves eventually freed itself and made it to the watering hole, leaving the other two behind to continue their struggle. With some wriggling, the second baby managed to escape and ran off to join the herd.

The final calf, however, had other plans. It plunged directly into the watering hole, ignoring the rest of the herd that drank cautiously from the edge. After enjoying its splash, the calf tried to climb back out but found itself stuck again.

Determined, the young elephant scrabbled with its front feet, struggling to hoist itself up the bank. After a few tense moments, it finally succeeded and dashed off to rejoin the group.

Potgieter shared that the heartwarming sight was enjoyed by many lodge guests.

“Watching baby elephants is always a delight,” he said. “For our guests, this was one of the most unforgettable moments of their trip.”