Bathtime! Baby elephant wallows in a muddy puddle but needs a bit of help to clamber out in adorable footage

This is the adorable moment a baby elephant got extremely muddy as it rolled around in a huge puddle.

But when it came time to leave, the young calf needed a leg-up from its parents to get out of the water.

Safari tourists came upon the giant herd of elephants as they were walking through the Mashatu Game Reserve on the Botswana-South Africa border.

The elephant calf makes the most of the muddy puddle in the Mashatu Game Reserve on the Botswana-South Africa border

In between the giant trunks and legs, a baby elephant can be seen jumping in and having a splash about to get as muddy as possible

The group are seen stopping at the huge muddy pool to relax and cover themselves in mud to cool off.

In between the giant trunks and legs, a baby elephant can be seen jumping in and having a splash about to get as muddy as possible.

Clearly enjoying itself, the elephant even goes for a roll in the brown waters, but it is still too big to be fully submerged.

The herd then signals that it is time to move on, but as the baby tries to climb out of the steep-sided puddle it appears unable to reach

The very muddy baby elephant was given a leg-up out of a pool after one of its parents spotted it struggling

Elephants spray mud on themselves which acts as an insect repellent and sunblock

Clearly enjoying itself, the elephant even goes for a roll in the brown waters, but it is still too big to be fully submerged

The heartwarming scenes were captured by photographer, Janet Kleyn, 53, in September

The herd then signals that it is time to move on, but as the baby tries to climb out of the steep-sided puddle it appears unable to reach.

In need of a leg-up, other elephants soon come to the rescue.

The heartwarming scenes were captured by photographer, Janet Kleyn, 53, in September.

Face plant: The elephants enjoy diving and rolling around in the muddy pool in order to cool down from the high daytime temperatures

Photographer Janet said: ‘I love watching the elephants play in the water and particularly the little ones – it’s so joyful’

Janet said: ‘I love watching the elephants play in the water and particularly the little ones – it’s so joyful.

‘I watched for over an hour as herds came in and out until I found this particular herd, which stayed for about 10-15 minutes.

‘Elephants love to submerge fully on hot days and also spray mud on themselves which serves as an insect repellent and as sunblock.’