15/06/2026
In this video is your typical example of what not to do at an elephant sighting.
1. The animal was approaching from a fair distance in a very calm manner. All other vehicles at the sighting had turned off their engines. This guy was the only one who kept his engine running.
2. The elephant walked onto the road after a cow and her calf had already crossed, so there was already movement of the herd on the road.
3. As the elephant stepped onto the road and surveyed the surrounding vehicles, still very calm but with that typical "own it's space" kind of energy about it, This guy decided to push past it which illicited the response from the elephant.
Always respect the animals space. They have the right of way and own the roads.
When approaching an elephant sighting, do not block their paths and know your exit routes should the need arise.
Keep their surrounds calm and stable. Calm meets calm, chaos meets chaos. Either switch your engine off and wait it out, or if your engine is already running, keep it running but don't rev. Do not bang on your doors. Elephants dont understand your shouting an banging but they do understand the energy you're actions are giving off and it will be matched.
Keep your voice calm and stable inside your vehicle if your windows are open, no screaming, or crazy laughing and definitely dont hang out of your windown. If you're unsure, close your windows. Animals are able to read the energy you give off and they react according to that.
Remain calm. Elephants flap their ears to cool themselves off.
If you do get a mock charge from an elephant, know that you have crossed a line and you need to back off and give it some more space.
The bullish walk you typically see from elephants on the road is not a mock charge. Think bully on the school ground. That's what they are doing. You remain calm and still and they typically just walk past you. If you back off, that elephant will keep pushing at you for kicks until he gets tired of playing the game with you. By you reversing in a panic puts yourself and others at the sighting at risk and you also risk missing the elephant off.
A raised head and tail is a clear indicator that an elephant is not happy and more space should be given. You dont want to be caught up in that tantrum.
Always remember that you are in their space and every elephant encounter is unique. Situational awareness is very important always. Elephants don't read the manuals.
Please feel free to add on or correct me if you think I may have something wrong.
