The magic of elephants – My first encounter with a female elephant and her calf

I still remember exactly how my heart was pounding when I got so close to an elephant for the first time. Before I went into the bush, I had no idea how overwhelming it would be to experience these majestic animals in the wild. The thought of the “Big Five” sparked excitement, but the elephants... with the elephants, there was something different, something indescribable.

It was one of those special moments that happen completely by accident. In the middle of a normal game drive – not knowing what was about to happen – we were slowly driving through the terrain when our guide suddenly slowed down. “Do you see her?” he asked. And then she emerged from the thicket of trees: a female elephant, slowly approaching us.

At first, I was just amazed that we were so close to her, but then – almost as if in slow motion – she came closer. The wind blew her scent towards us and I could literally feel the weight of her steps. The earth vibrated. Elephants communicate not only through sounds, but also through low sound waves that they send through the ground. At that moment, I could feel this presence, as if it were touching something in me that went much deeper than mere sight. It was not just an animal standing before us – it was a huge, intelligent being that towered over us with an ease that almost invited wonder.

Female Elephant, Karongwe Game Reserve, Okt 2024

It was a magical moment. The light of the sunset shone through the trees and bathed the scene in a soft, golden light. The elephants disappeared as quickly as they had appeared, but I felt as if time had stood still for a moment.

This encounter showed me the importance of respecting nature and animals. There is no way to know how an animal will react to us, but in that moment, the elephant gave me the greatest gift – proximity, without fear and without attack. A memory that I will always carry with me.

Since then, I have learned a lot about elephants – their complex communication, their social structures, the way they move through the landscape, perceiving not only space but also the emotions of others. But the memory of that encounter will always be the first and deepest.