An elephant who doesn’t want to be photographed charges the photographer
A bold and daring photographer, Ben Cranke, fearlessly stood his ground to capture breathtaking photos of an elephant charging straight toward him, despite the imminent danger. The heart-stopping encounter occurred at the Savuti Game Reserve in Chobe National Park, Botswana. Cranke sat undeterred in his camp chair as the massive five-ton male elephant dashed out of the savannah and stampeded into the water.
At a mere distance of 30 feet, Cranke and the elephant engaged in a tense standoff. The courageous photographer captured the moment the elephant raised its ears in a bad V shape and splashed water at him, clearly displaying its displeasure. However, Cranke remained calm and resolute, knowing from experience that the elephant’s initial charge was often a mock attack.
The fully-grown elephant, towering at 12 feet, charged at Cranke three times before concluding that he posed no threat and calmly walked away. Cranke, who hails from Chingford, Essex, shared that it was a scorching hot day, and he sought shelter from the heat under the shade of a Camelthorn tree right next to the Savuti channel. He recounted how the elephant walked out of the surrounding savannah and approached the water’s edge on the opposite bank to drink. Cranke sat silently in his camp chair, not moving a muscle, relishing the experience of being just 20 or so meters (65 feet) away from such a majestic animal.
Despite the tense encounter, Cranke managed to capture stunning photos of the elephant marking its territory and giving him a dousing of water. He shared that he has a deep appreciation for the beauty and majesty of wildlife, and he was fortunate to witness such a thrilling moment up close.
Ben Cranke’s daring encounter with a charging elephant at the Savuti Game Reserve in Botswana resulted in awe-inspiring photos that capture these majestic creatures’ raw power and magnificence. His courage and composure in the face of danger are commendable, and his passion for wildlife photography is evident in the breathtaking images he captured.
