Extremely Close Elephant Encounter

Silence is most definitely golden when it comes to being so up close and personnel with this incredible giant tusker….
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Eswe Ras, Front of House manager for Sausage Tree Safari Camp, on the Balule Private Game Reserve, was lucky enough to have experienced this heart pounding encounter with such a majestic animal.
Eswe is a qualified guide and occasionally does the tracking on game drives (as per this incident).
“This was a unique experience for me, but occasionally trackers do get approached by various animals out of curiosity.”
This happened in February 2016 shortly after we departed for the afternoon drive from camp. We approached a small group of elephant bulls and parked about 30 metres away from them, respecting their space. They gradually started moving closer to us, this is when Ezulwini (the elephant bull) approached the vehicle to pass on by. As seen on the video he came towards me and stood in front of me (what is not seen on the video is that he put his trunk around my one ankle, smelling me) for a few seconds. Our head guide Kevin van der Linde was filming the incident.
It was certainly quite intimidating having such a huge animal so close to you & touching you but I never felt that I was in any danger. Ezulwini is an elephant well known to guides & trackers here on Balule and he is a very gentle-natured animal. The feeling I think would best be described as complete awe and definitely an adrenalin rush."
After Ezulwini's curiosity faded, he simply moved off and resumed feeding along with the other bulls.
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[@gabe-po9yi]

The elephant pretending that’s the exact plant it wanted to eat in front of the man’s chair, lol.

[@mrloop1530]

Exactly my thought 😄

[@earlthepearl6414]

LOL

[@holdinmcgroin8639]

It's called 'displacement behaviour' and that is exactly what it was doing

[@carries1412]

I came to say this...😆

[@melaninmonroeeee]

💀

[@sylviakoziarski4912]

No music to drowned out the beautiful bird chatter' Thank you/.

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

Totally agree It's so rare to get the original audio without some stupid overdubbed techno-beat music, and to get high quality audio capturing every little natural sound.

[@soniadowney7427]

@@Gunners_Mate_Guns so true, as soon as I hear that techno beat music, as you call it, I leave. People say mute. No. They don't get it.

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

@@soniadowney7427 Testify

[@sevvy101]

No music to "DROWN" out.... not drowned out 😒

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

@@sevvy101 English is more than likely not her first language.

[@neponsetriver]

It must have been both thrilling and terrifying at the same time.

[@viletreeve9120]

He must have peed and pooed his pants both at the same time.

[@fulltimedad8138]

Awesome! Never think about how the elephant may be feeling, adventurous ass.

[@tinyvr7036]

I liked how this elephant didn't just want to smell you, but to look in your eye. They're like that.😊 Awesome.🐘❤🐘❤🐘

[@daniellenevarez7333]

agreed.

[@feliperctta]

imagine having to sneeze...

[@sparrow1796]

Hah, oh noooooo!

[@RoScFan]

phillip rose Im not certain but i think adrenalin tends to subdue other physiologic processes. Actually I KNOW it suppresses digestion and redirects all resources to sensory and locomotion organs as well as the brain. What i dont know is whether it subdued the need to sneeze.

[@greybeard804]

phillip rose LMAO!!!

[@PLATOON72]

phillip rose hahaha

[@bobhwkns]

Or phone rings

[@christyturner8947]

What a moment! The bull is massive. His rumble probably reverberated throughout the guide's body. A magnificent elephant indeed!

[@janisdeluca3028]

yeah, I was thinking his body had goosebumps on goosebumps

[@mosspiglet8766]

Wow. Extreme close up. 😀 Well done to the guide for being so relaxed about it👏

[@Lord_of_Proboscidea]

Considering this is Kruger’s latest sightings I doubt they added the sound to the clip, but it does sound very similar to an elephant rumble stock sound. Of course, any elephant could sound almost identical

[@driver55]

I truly love elephants. Incredibly smart creatures and also have an amazing social structure, honoring their dead, elders, & families. Even as far as helping other animals at times when in danger. Thanks for the post.

[@audrabrizendine4799]

How amazing and blessed to be able to be so close to such a majestic being!

[@aremedyproject9569]

The elephant said something. No human words for it. 🐘

[@NeonsStyleHD]

he said, u brave fucker

[@aremedyproject9569]

NeonsStyle Ya, good one. Or..."Respect, man"

[@NeonsStyleHD]

Remedy Project Thank you & right back at u :)

[@69zenos1]

He said "RAP sucks!!"

[@drinny26]

It said ughhhhhhhh

[@brandonn3543]

The elephant was showing no signs of aggression. They’re intelligent creatures.

[@Lee-fc3yf]

Elephants kill 500 people year.

[@jonsebastian1366]

What an experience! I'm sure the guy felt that growl through his whole body.

[@LightAvengerS171]

That low growl "Don't you dare try anything funny"

[@lisaetinger2248]

I would give anything to have taken that guy's place. Just to see that magnificent Bull up close would be a dream come true for me. What a Gorgeous Bull.

[@triniomari]

I want a bull to

[@jennie2921]

So very much love these majestic beauties. Have for as long as i can remember, thats a long time. Im 62...Thank you to all who work to protect and free these beautiful animals.🐘🐘🐘

[@peculiartreasure6579]

Look how beautiful he is🐘😍😊

[@SirKolass]

You can tell by the size and tusks too, males have a wider structure and thicker tusks lol

[@chuck1997norris]

I totally agree with you. I'm kinda obsessed with elephants 😍. They're beautiful, majestic, gentle and sweet😍🐘.

[@Aguvika]

As long as he doesn't make any sudden movements, he is not seen as a threat

[@blackberrylady6025]

Aww really....wow.....so if he just sit still the elephant is ok ....but cant he yell stop stop & maybe it will backup....just wondering now...wow scary.

[@blackberrylady6025]

Question, can the elephant since fear in a person & attack u..

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

Correct Just remain still and the bull will simply look at you warily, then walk on.

[@walor5384]

Be cool 😎 if he jump scare the elephant with “BOOoooo”

[@Phoenix.Sparkles]

Not moving alone cannot eliminate anyone as a threat. That elephant had concerned body language, it was not as calm as it could be, however elephants are smart, they are simply too big to feel threatened around a random sitting monkey.

[@WesleyO05]

What a fascinating and majestic creature!

[@shr011104]

Such a gentle giant, beautiful animal, never get tired watching them.

[@Lee-fc3yf]

Elephants kill 100-500 human beings a year, tehya re beautiful though but terrifying when angry.

[@celinejohnston3694]

What a majestic , beautiful bull elephant. Even though I love elephants, I'd be terrified to sit on that chair. Jurassic park indeed, love 🐘♥️♥️♥️....

[@pbh9195]

my god I hope the rangers keep an eye on this elephant. tusk's like those are a magnet for poachers.

[@EmanimatesYT]

@JASON LAWLESS poachers are just poor people who need money to live 99% of the time, demonizing them as killers for greed isn’t exactly true

[@impalaSS65]

@@EmanimatesYT Absolute bullshit. They do easy money like every other crook. Crackheads are "99% poor people" too. Still they act without regard to others.

[@nuntana2]

@@EmanimatesYT BS. They can do other things, but take the easy route. You cannot justify their actions. Absolute scumbag pondlife.

[@CRD0204]

The Chinese would kill for those tusks

[@idleonlooker1078]

The 3 reasons why animals are poached: - for money, - for food ("bush meat"), - to protect their subsistence crops against "crop-raiders". The last 2 are the most common reasons, with the last also causing most human deaths, because of those poor farmers trying to defend their crops. Remember, too, in rural areas of Africa, there is no welfare office or social security hand-outs to be had (since NONE are paid in Africa!!), so people do what they must to survive. It's very easy for SJWs and "conservationists" from comfortable western societies to anthrpomorphise about WILD animals and scream that the animals must be protected, but the fact remains it's very different story when you are extremely poor, and actually have to live defenceless and "cheek-by-jowl" with these large dangerous - and predatory - species every day of your (usually short!!) lives. Just remember these people - who are BY FAR much worse off than you - before you preach or judge. The problem is far, far, more complex than your immediate, shallow, response warrants. 👍

[@drewahrens3141]

Just listen to that rumble! And hooollly shit, that elephant is MASSIVE!

[@alf6259]

That was the sound of the guy shiting his pants so the elephant moved on.

[@mosspiglet8766]

@@alf6259 😂😂😂👍

[@thealchemist2]

this reminds so much of Jurassic Park dinosaur encounters.

[@tom7471]

Ezulwini is known to be a gentle giant! He is magnificent and still roams around as of 2024! I have been fortunate enough to see him on some live cams every once in a while.

[@garynewton1263]

Bloody awesome African elephants, love em.

[@hamzakhalid9428]

Elephant finally decides to leave and turns around man: *farts* elephant turns around again: 'so you have chosen death'

[@mudchair16]

That's the biggest anteater I've seen to date.

[@purushrut]

haha

[@Vishnu_Karthik]

LMAO that username

[@francisfernandes3749]

Thts not funny you pot head ....

[@mulonzee8773]

Interesting. I've never associated elephant with any eaters until this comment!

[@deividribeiro5380]

@@purushruto -

[@saranrajin]

YOUR HEART AND SOUL HAVE TO BE TRUE,,, WHEN YOU REACH THEM,,, FANTASTIC

[@myworldyourmusic11]

How cool is *this* meeting Nadav.As Eswe and the other guides knew this herd;he knew exactly what to do,respecting their space and letting the elephants make their own way. What an experience to have one of these incredible tuskers come right up to you,putting his trunk round his leg to scent him..and proudly walking away.It's a nice name for a camp as well and in his own words.. "The feeling I think would best be described as complete awe and definitely an adrenalin rush." This is one for the guide's memory chest:he'll never forget *this* welcome.`

[@Latestsightings]

It's extremely true. The best is to always to let animals do what they want on their own terms and show them respect

[@myworldyourmusic11]

Hi Nadav,I sent you a PM.

[@mmuku8655]

Is the guide on Oestrogen? Why does the elephant begin to get an erection as he moves closer and scents him/her? Is guide getting ready for a sex change?

[@shaneturner8073]

Awsome.i love the way he looked him in the eye before he walked off.looked at him like "you right mate"

[@Siureivax]

“Don’t move.... a muscle”

[@fatsonot181]

That low frequency growl at 00:30 can shake your heart

[@maartjewaterman1193]

That low rumbling is how elephants greet each other. So he just said hello to the guy.

[@dean8842]

And the elephant is thinking, "Why does this human smell like piss and shit? Phew! I'm outta here!"

[@kelrogers8480]

Crude!

[@carolgoerke3109]

That was so cool. What a privilege and a blessing to be next to a magnificent bull elephant.

[@KFrost-fx7dt]

Tuskers are magnificent, and not just because if their size. Old male elephants like him have a peace-keeping role in elephant society. Their quiet dignity tells all. He's not threatened by these vehiclee at all. He is wise, he is experienced, he is a protector, a role model, a father. When guys like him are present, elephants are gentle.

[@David-uf8ex]

The most noble beautiful creatures 🥰

[@cacampbell3654]

That low rumbling is a happy and affectionate sound, is it not?!

[@tonybalongna]

not sure, given an elephant's vibrational noises like the one we heard in the video and their understanding of syntax it's safe to assume that they communicate with those kinds of noises and it said something we can't understand

[@WindWipper]

Holy WOW. Awwwwwwwwwesome!!!! And just think: Wooly mammoths and mastadons were even larger than that!

[@MalliTrAxxZz]

Some of them.

[@pantherastark9948]

Just to give some info, The wolly mammoth was about same size that african elephant, the mastodont was smaller than african elephant. But the steppe mammoth was bigger, also the Elephas recki was bigger and the Dinotherium was huge.

[@minedroftdiaz2089]

Panthera Stark your right

[@danimart3374]

THAT's how you're SUPPOSED to handle wild animals. Look, keep quiet, and don't yell and shout at them. Well done, to the tour guides AND the tourists for keeping quiet and capturing this majesty!

[@Tyrfingr]

Legend says the guy is still sitting there, staring into the horizon

[@KevinP32270]

HAAAA LOLOL.

[@mlvchris3049]

💀💀💀

[@samilturnali3875]

I fell about laughing.... 🙂🙂🙂

[@angelabordack]

Very close! I would crap myself 😂😂😂😂

[@PLATOON72]

Angela Bordack crap yourself???? I would have had an instant heartache!!! Holy God

[@stevehazard8110]

I would have been ready to deliver a Karate chop

[@Catswholesome]

@JASON LAWLESS same before it kills me XD

[@lindafromcalifornia1155]

Whoa, that ellie was so close you could hear the low rumbling. That ellie may have been doing more that just sniffing. He may have been saying hello since ellies are tactile with each other and he probably has observed humans tactile as well. But respecting their distance as you did is utmost important. Great video.

[@survivor648]

Just goes to show animals like calm energy and they are just as curious about us as we are of them❤️

[@R33C3.]

Magnificent pair of tusks. Truly the face of African safari wild life.

[@monticella]

And right after the filming he needed to clean his shorts in the nearby stream.

[@KatherineUribe-1]

OMG! That was very close! And that ellie had some impressive tusks!

[@princejohn6560]

Elephant: "I'm gonna eat this bush thats in front of you and then I'm gonna stand right close to you, and watcha gonna do about it?"

[@walterlv01]

I've read that elephants see humans the way we see puppies and kittens, i.e. cute and adorable. Lucky for this guy.

[@sharonott7513]

An incredibly awesome encounter. What a beautiful animal and to think people deliberately kill them is unconscionable.

[@EdmondForster68]

This is a lesson to us humans, we can always walk away. No harm done! This is peaceful act of intelligence...

[@lionelf4781]

O M G ! that was VERY close....

[@mari-greciaodal2436]

that poor man but have been scared fecesely, to be polite! hell of a nice, precious visit, though? a once in a lifetime if lucky!

[@RamirezHD]

(0:31) that look like "you got some balls kiddo, I am out"

[@D.Antony]

"Don't move, human. Don't you dare move!"

[@blackberrylady6025]

Dobt move, my heart is moving so is my bladder...😀😀😀

[@xavierjones9777]

That was a wild elephant too

[@TheraP2014]

Being eye to eye with a sentient being such as an elephant is a precious and priceless gift to me!! Only in my dreams could that happen.

[@rupanjaliacharya7016]

He is very considerate !!

[@RAMB0VI]

Something tells me that touching it would have been a bad idea.

[@mattguy2998]

Yeeeah....u dont wanna do that.lol

[@mamacat63]

@Kimba same😂😂

[@johnliebner5430]

Human pant pee and pant crap demonstrate a remarkable calming effect on elephants. It's a safari win-win!

[@XNightmareX0]

0:29 My heart stopped for 5 seconds

[@nelivartolomeu5673]

How sweet and gentle are these giants... Love them... I wonder...if you would offer them a fruit ...how would they interact with you,🤔

[@salw8717]

I think his body froze he couldn't run even if he wanted to. Hes stuck but was lucky

[@melissafara]

Awesome video! I would have crapped my pants!!!

[@Latestsightings]

Glad you liked it! But yeh, it would have definitely been scary

[@biarosini2579]

I liked it too Kruger Sigthings, say hello

[@biarosini2579]

evov monbly Hello

[@sundaramjeyaraj5973]

These guys seems they know the ranger, even he winked at him. Superb.

[@creepyworldswithsp5897]

Elephants are such majestic animals

[@thegreatnormad3424]

that's dangerously close! giant gentle is amazing

[@mrx0088]

What a nasty joke perpetrated by the friends of this poor blind man.

[@bafanakaione9534]

😂

[@abhisheksamuel5249]

😂😂

[@TAURON85]

😂😂😂

[@sankiegreyling6309]

You are dreaming. Which blind guy?? That was a ranger.

[@sassytbc7923]

It wasn’t a blind guy it was a ranger.

[@comandante9312]

peacefull animals. Gentle and majestic.

[@brianrushford4057]

Seriously,my heart would have flew straight out of my chest🤣🤣

[@NoEgg4u]

Consider the following: 1) The guy in the chair is closer than the camera. 2) @0:28 the elephant lets out a grumble. Elephants produce very, very low frequencies. So that grumble, alone, is enough to make anyone pee their pants. The rumble is lower than what 99%+ of speakers can reproduce. The rumble goes below human hearing (below 20 hertz). So that end of the grunt can only be felt -- and he felt it!

[@tonybalongna]

elephants communicate with vibrations

[@Libertariandude]

This would be classified as a deeply spiritual experience.

[@hypekillacsplaya]

So awesome. To remain calm has got to be difficult. I wonder if the elephant can feel your heart beating a million miles a second. lol. He can crush you in .5 seconds but he doesn't, he just wants to look at you and walks off.

[@trevorthompson7604]

Elephants are the most beautiful animals in the world

[@TheWitness1001]

This is where the boss puts me when he doesn't like me.

[@RajKumar-cj9fj]

Man: ok if i run i die, so anyway i wil stay the f calm Elephant: i like your courage, ok i will leave you for today for your bravery.

[@nicolepurcell157]

My heart is racing just watching it!

[@helgareichert1999]

Elefant kommt, brummt Mann an"ich kenne Dich, hast Du verstanden" und zieht weiter. Das ist extreme Sympathie, ja, wie Familie. Dieser Guy hat ein großes Herz für Elefanten. Dankeschön für den Filmer. 💐

[@rennierad]

What a beautiful encounter. ❤

[@TheDarkDresser]

It was indeed a beautiful encounter, and I liked the way the elephant did a quick double take before walking away. I get the feeling that elephants can sense humans who are a threat to them from those who aren't.

[@comradecetacean1927]

Did anyone notice that the elephant's 2nd trunk started coming as he moved towards the dude or am I seeing shit! 🌚

[@mamacat63]

Nope, you're not seeing things😂😂

[@boogieman802]

0:31 Elephant: Your time has not come yet😜😜😜

[@lorena4371]

Nerves of steel that tracker has!

[@Abdi-libaax]

look how massive that thing is. them guys are brave.

[@emanueltheodorus1056]

It's a good thing that elephant is not in musth.

[@rebekahfunches6876]

What's that mean

[@TheDr502]

@@rebekahfunches6876 Musth is a period that bull elephants go through during mating season. Their testosterone production balloons to 60x what it normally is. It's characterized by a swollen temporal gland. It causes an annoying toothache for the bull, resulting in extremely aggressive and violent behavior even in normally peaceful and well-adjusted bulls. It seems to work out for them, since cow elephants are more likely to mate with elephants in musth.

[@rebekahfunches6876]

@@TheDr502 Alright thanks..

[@recipoldinasty]

Emanuel Theodorus idk if he a malw

[@emanueltheodorus1056]

@@recipoldinasty That thing has a second trunk hanging between his legs. It's surely is a male.

[@user-yc4sj5dc9v]

Einfach nur geil, diese riesigen gutmütigen Tiere, kann ich stundenlang angucken

[@2788247]

I have been to Kruger Reserve and it is amazing. Can not wait to go back.

[@maryallen2317]

Is he crazy?!

[@HenryDube72]

+Xipo86 he knows it but still an untamed full grown bull elephant with huge tasks, once you flinch you're a goner

[@pikppa]

He's not some kind of monster, he's an animal. And not even a predator. You don't bother him, he won't bother you.

[@beorlingo]

No, he's not crazy. That's what they do. Eat leaves and such.

[@silentscreams1988]

wow, wow, wow. This is incredible!

[@bicknell67]

Elephants are so massive and intelligent.

[@ScarStigr]

With the price of metal now, that guys balls must be worth a fortune.

[@herschelhatcher5402]

what a beautiful experience

[@rosjja]

Balls of steel 🔥

[@philiphawkins6664]

What a Majestic and magnificent elephant. The bull looked him right in the eye. Such intelligence. I would damn near give a kidney to have that experience.

[@tanyae1815]

Omg you’re so lucky the elephants greet you like a heroes.. I ‘ll Probably pass out from excitement if one comes close to me hahahhaha .. I absolutely adore elephants, their behavior are so intelligent, calm and relaxed...

[@10susan10]

Thank you , thank you, thank you!!!! I would have loved to had heard the guide right after this... his voice would speak volumes about the emotion that this must invoke within him as he sits frozen. After all we are guests in THEIR home.

[@simonjones575]

That elephant has seen this guy before he's just making sure he's him ,

[@francisfernandes3749]

Birds chirping music was great awesome...

[@thecovidprisoner]

Elephant grudgingly giving that guy respect...clearly he didn't want too. Bigger balls than elephant for sure.👍

[@ReesesCupsable]

WHOOOOAAAA!!!!! THAT WAS AWESOME!

[@Lazarus-aap]

Wow beautiful!! And scary too!

[@Macfierce1]

They''re flapping their ears. Means they're happy. Probably could have reached out and touched them in a gentle way and they'd have liked it.

[@narissama8670]

What a moment and what a Majestic Elephant.