One of the reasons I was kept busy on my travels was because of my ‘new toy’. The Osmo 3 Pocket camera is extremely versatile, holds amazing camera quality, and is so small and handy that it stays mostly undetected. One of my favorite video settings are the time- and motion-lapse settings. The camera takes a photo every second for example for a length of your choice. The videos show slow-moving subjects like clouds shifting across the skies. It looks amazing.

I chose a one-second timer for two hours at this particular waterhole, which meant that the movie elapsed at 19:10, just after sunset. This body of water was small and less visited by animals and therefore by humans too. I positioned Osmo next to the waterhole in a dried-out mud area. It was a favorite play pool for elephants some time ago. Now it was bone-dry and ‘uncomfortable’ to walk in. I banked on the idea that animals won’t visit this ex-playground and topple or break the camera. If all goes well, the setting sun will reflect over the puddly calm waters.

If I am lucky, some four-legged visitors will be captured on film. And if I am really lucky, those animals stray into the reflecting setting sun. Photography can be so exciting.

The sun had already set on my return to the waterhole, and I still had 15 more minutes to the final lapse. I was excited to see three young elephant bulls quenching their thirst after yet another stonker hot day. They will be captured on my Timelapse one way or another as Osmo still stood still on the tripod I left him with. Phew! I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the video but I had to be patient. The camera was still rolling and the elephants were enjoying some downtime. Bliss. What a peaceful setting.

But what’s all this sudden ruckus?

It wasn’t long after that when I heard high revs approaching with high beam lights on.

‘Who drives like an idiot at this time of day? No wonder the animals are skittish of cars!’ That’s what the elephants thought as they ran for cover. ‘What a f… dickhead!’ They were members of the local community on a booze drive.

The driver reaked of high-volume breath even a few meters away. ‘Are you filming?’ the ranger driver asked me.

‘I was, until you scared the elephants off!’

Yihaa, off they went. I was very annoyed.

Oh well, it is getting dark as the last light reflects over the body of water. I got out of the car to pocket Osmo, who was unscarfed. My plan worked fabulously as I stood on the edge of the pool, taking a few photos of this colourful serene scene. Wow. Just wow.

My eyes adjusted well as I noticed some movement in front of me. It’s the elephants. They ran off earlier but not too far it seemed. They had the same idea as I did after that rude interruption. Two elephants slowly returned towards me at the waterhole. They were still thirsty and it’s nice and quiet now.

Should I stay or should I go now? If I stay it will be trouble, if I go it will be double.

A quick decision is a good decision? I couldn’t think, my thoughts were in limbo.

Like a reflex, I parked Osmo on his tripod right there and then and pressed the film button.

Most people would have hurried back to the safety of the car. The rest wouldn’t be here in the first place.

I was fully aware of the danger I was putting myself in. Two grown elephants in touching distance.

Anything could have snuck up from behind. But….

I couldn’t move. I was mesmerized. I couldn’t believe my eyes right in front of me.

It was something out of this world, truly mind-blowing. I just stood there watching the elephants moving their trunks up and down, left and right. Now and then, the water was squirted over their backside. I could hear and see the water dropping onto the water’s surface. Accepting rumbles with one another. I could have heard a pin drop.

I wasn’t scared and neither were the elephants. There were no signs of danger or aggression on either side. Just tranquil contempt.

The waning less than a quarter moon shone brightly on clear skies. Microbats circled the water’s edge for scurrying insects.

A third elephant arrived and joined the other two at the edge of the pool.

At some moment in time, the three of them stood together motionless. No movement and no sound.

I didn’t dare to move, I didn’t want to spook them. At what stage the elephants realized that I was standing there, I don’t know. Their eyesight is approximately as good as ours, although elephants can see better at night. Their hearing is impeccable. Elephants can pick up the slightest movement with their sensitive feet. I wasn’t moving. It was the smell that gave me away.

With his trunk up in the air, he flapped his ears and moved calmly to the western end of the pond. A sign of uncertainty but not a stress signal.

‘Easy boy. We’re all friends here!’

A herd of zebras passed by along the opposite side and stood still for a while, looking in my direction. Can they see me?

A fourth elephant appeared for a drink as well. He ended up right in the middle of the pond, drinking and squirting in front of me. Two elephants moved slowly in my direction alongside the pond.

One was telling me it was time to go. And so I did.

I retreated steadily back to Zimba as I could barely see my hands and feet in front.

Breeding lapwing birds yelled out for danger but that was all the stress noise coming from the pond.

12 minutes! Incredible 12 minutes is the length of this video.

I watched it straight up when I got back to camp, pitch dark. Speechless.