File:Lonely Kariba Elephant - Zimbabwe 1993 - Keep the Car Running (4441502014).jpg

We never had much joy with lions when in Africa but our elephant stories are legion and legendary.

  We have just left the Cutty Sark Hotel at Kariba after a pleasant few days there. My Konica C35 might suggest he is quite some way off but truly he is no more than 20 yards away. To an angry elephant this is no distance whatsoever. Hence the title. Veterans of the Kruger National Park will be well aware of the advice.
   When we drove off the ferry towards the town of Kariba we decided to do some early morning shopping before going to the hotel. The town has a nice square with plenty of parking spaces however we changed our mind and went back later as there was other traffic looking for a place to stop. Half a dozen elephants had decided to go shopping early in town as well that day.
  At dinner that evening we were enjoying the meal when shots were fired. The manager rushed in to assure us that the revolution had not started between courses but that some elephants had decided to push down some trees in the garden and possibly go for a swim in the pool. Elephants find getting into the pool easy enough but it requires a rather large crane to get them out so the staff fire starting-pistols to scare them off. It is fun to see an elephant scratching itself against a full-grown tree though the tree doesn't think so.
      Finally, I'll be quick I promise, I should tell you about another incident at Hwange (Wankie) National Park earlier in the trip. Having done a rather disappointing safari drive early in the morning we were returning to the accommodation when just outside the gates we spotted 2 female elephants with 4 young ones. The matriarch indicated to the younger female to check out this vehicle which was approaching her young. The guide then issued us with a set of very strict instructions. Do not move suddenly. Do not speak. Do not attempt to take pictures and No Noise!

The young female weighing in at just over a ton and a half then walked up to our open-topped Land Rover and proceeded to put her trunk up to each and every one of the 12 occupants, sniffing each in turn. When she sniffed me she decided to flap her ears to dislodge some irritating flies and proceeded to whack my son round the face with one of them. I and everyone else breathed a great sigh of relief when he did not cry or cry out in pain. He saved that until she was well away. I have never been so proud of him.

  What's it like standing next to a very large wild animal? Scary and awe-inspiring. You only realise just how huge they are when you're sat in the back of a truck with it looking down on you. Truly an unforgettable experience.