Photographer Helplessly Watches Elephant Knocks Over His Camera

The video shows how I helplessly had to sit tight on my safari vehicle while filming and begging a bull elephant not to destroy my filming equipment.
Living and working in the African wilderness is a great privilege. With filming and photography as my main hobbies, I get the opportunity to go and see remote wilderness areas that most humans have never been to. This gives me the opportunity in my off time to explore, film and photograph the beautiful nature that surrounds us. While one is out there, free and alone, you still have to be aware and hundred percent tuned into your surroundings as every kind of dangerous animal, reptile or insect in the African wild is to be found around you. Doing these trips alone is also not advisable. My wife and I was out exploring a wilderness area one late afternoon. It was just before sunset, and I found a beautiful, elevated spot from where to film a great sunset. I set up my tripod with my camera and had a little chair to sit on while filming. When you are filming and concentrating on what you are busy with, you do lose focus on what is going on around you. That’s why you never do this alone. My wife remained on the vehicle, watching the surroundings while I got going filming the sunset. I was just getting into my filming when my wife suddenly and very calmly told me that an elephant bull appeared and is standing behind the vehicle and is just staring at us. It was unbelievable how quiet a five-ton animal can just suddenly appear and us not hear him approaching. Elephants in general has an incredible ability to walk very soft, contrary to the believe that a big animal will make a big noise when walking. I looked back and there this bull elephant was staring at me rather curiously. My heart almost stopped and realised I was just as far from the vehicle on the one side as the elephant was from the other side. I knew I could not remain where I was. Instinctively I left all my stuff right there and dashed to the vehicle and jumped onto it. The elephant bull got a little agitated with my sudden movements and then calmed down again. I was relieved to have made the vehicle, but a new level of concern and worry came over me. I knew this elephant was going to be curious to see what my camera, tripod and chair set up was all about. After just standing there and staring at us for another minute, the elephant turned his focus onto my equipment. I just knew this was going to happen. I had an old second hand camera on the vehicle and started filming. Why I wanted to film an elephant potentially smashing my gear I do not know myself. The elephant bull slowly made his way towards my setup. My heart was racing and me and my wife even begged the elephant not to damage or trample my equipment, as if that was going to help anything. The elephant bull walked up to my camera on the tripod, gave the tripod a few sniffs and then decided this funny looking black thing needs to go down. The elephant walked closer and knocked over my tripod and camera with his one tusk. I thought that was only the beginning and next he was going to trample it as the elephant remained there smelling the area where I was filming from. I really thought that was it for my camera but to my great relief and surprise, the elephant bull suddenly lost interest, turned around, and slowly walked off into the sunset. Luckily my camera still works and only had a few scratches on it and some dirt went into a few places on the camera. When an elephant bull suddenly interrupts your filming session, it is something to remember for life while I’m thankful to have had my wife with me on that day, awake and alert, saving me from a potential worse situation.