Photography: Frits Meyst
Text: Jillian Macdonald

The bush in front of us moves as giant feet trample the branches. The earth pounds beneath our feet. Slowly but surely whole branches disappear out of sight, followed by crunching, chomping sounds. We are very close now. Together with wildlife guide Gary Freeman, we have been stalking the elephant for the last half hour. Cautiously sneaking up on him and closing in, we take care not to make noise and to stay downwind. Suddenly the bush opens up and we stand trunk to trunk with a big old grumpy male who is not impressed with our presence. We are exposed, walking openly in the wilds of Africa.

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