12/08/2026
World Elephant Day 🐘
During my time in Kruger National Park, I had so many encounters with elephants. Some were a little intimidating, especially when encountering bulls in musth, who can be quite unpredictable. But most encounters were peaceful, curious and incredibly special.
One encounter in particular has stayed with me.
I was driving through the bush near Shingwedzi, along a narrow dirt road surrounded by mopane trees, when I came across an elephant mother and her calf.
The mother was completely relaxed, continuing to feed as I watched from my car. Her little calf, however, was curious. It came closer and closer, until it was just about a metre from my car.
A little while later, the calf started drinking.
I sat there with tears in my eyes, completely overwhelmed by the trust of these animals allowing me into their space and letting me witness such an intimate moment.
Moments like this make it impossible not to feel deeply connected to these incredible animals. They also remind me of how much there is to lose.
The African elephant is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Despite their strength and resilience, elephants face serious threats from poaching for ivory, habitat loss and human-elephant conflict.
On World Elephant Day, I hope we remember that these animals are not just icons of Africa. They are intelligent, social beings with complex lives, families and relationships and they deserve a future in the wild.
I feel incredibly lucky to have been allowed into their world, even if only for a few precious moments. ❤️🐘
WildlifeConservation WildlifePhotography ConservationPhotography
