The young calf appeared to be having an incredible time frolicking around in the water - but when playtime was over, he struggled to get back onto dry land.
But mum clearly knew best with her tot, when she wrapped her trunk around the youngster's body and hoisted him out of the pool - before giving him a gentle kick up the backside to help him scramble up the bank.
The adorable incident which took place on the Chobe River, Botswana, was captured by Neal Cooper, 50, a professional photographer from South Africa.
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It looked like the mum was teaching the calf how to use the mud to stay cool in the heat
Mr Cooper said: "The elephant family had arrived by the river and the little one wanted to play and bathe in the water.
"But the elephant calf was only a few weeks old and so the mother needed to keep an eye on it to make sure that it didn't get into any danger.
"It looked like the mum was teaching the calf how to use the mud to stay cool in the heat, but also how to get out when it got stuck. She looked like she was teaching by setting an example.
"The river is always a fantastic place to visit and photograph wild elephants because you can witness different family units and how they interact with other families as well as their own."