THE ANGRY ELEPHANT

AGE – 4

 We were driving through an unfamiliar African country with a 4x4 Toyota Hilux counting Oxpeckers on game animals.  My mother, my sister and I were sitting on the top of the vehicle to enjoy the scenery and the breeze, while her friend Charlie drove the vehicle.  That day we saw lions in the distance, rhino's, buffalo and a lot of other game.  It was a very pleasant day, we were driving slowly, the days breeze was calm and we never expected the danger to come.  We were surrounded by tall trees and thick bush.  We had to drive through thick sand as we were approaching a river. 

Charlie must have seen movement in between the trees because the car stopped.  Out came an elephant, it stood in the road, right in the river.  Exactly where we would have been if the car hadn't stopped earlier.  The elephant couldn’t have been more than 1 year old, yet he seemed very confident, did not show any fear, just stood there and stared at us.  He probably wondered what we were doing there, he just stood still.  He had his confidence because he was part of a herd.  Slowly they appeared and crossed the road.  It must have been around 20 elephants that came and disappeared into the trees and thick bush. 

The small elephant was still standing there, he must have been waiting for something.  He must have known what was coming.  We stood there for about 20 seconds, and then it happened.  An enormous elephant emerged, about 20 meters from us, this was obviously the dominant male.  His tusks must have been 2 meters each and his head towered us.  He was running, straight for us.  His ears were spread out in anger, his eyes were glaring and he was going fast.  Charlie slammed the car into reverse and we almost fell off the roof if it was not for the railing at the top of the car.  The car seemed too slow, the thick sand was slowing the car down.  Our engine was even louder than the elephant; it was obviously pushed to the limit.  Every few meters it felt like we were going to get stuck.  Luckily the car continued, yet the elephant came closer and closer. 

He would have no problem toppling our car, especially if he pushed us in the direction we were travelling.  Thank God this chase only continued for about 100 meters.  The elephant stopped, he was about 5m from us when he stopped, and just watched us reverse further until we were a good 200 meters away.  The elephant then turned around and confidently walked with his back to us, disappearing into the trees.

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