Late one evening as we were slowly heading back to Marakele National Park’s Tlopi Camp with a few minutes left before gate closing time, we found our way blocked by a big herd of elephants, and I parked our vehicle a good distance away so that we could enjoy the sighting. While the herd were peacefully going about their business up ahead, suddenly a young elephant cow came charging at full tilt out of the bush right next to us!
I immediately turned the car around and drove off. After a few hundred metres I slowed down so that we could resume our more leisurely game-viewing pace, only to have the raging cow appear in the rear-view mirror again. This being repeated several times, it was startling to realise that she would not relent and in the end she chased us for over a kilometre – with Joubert snapping away these photographs – before she turned around.
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
DeWetsWild 
Nothing scarier than being chased by an elephant. Nervous giggle all round, I’m sure! Great photos by Joubert.
You know well, Helen!
Great photos. I’m glad you and your family are okay.
Thank you very much, Tim. We’ll remember this incident every time we pass that spot in future.
No mistaking her message. Joubert has nerves of steel.
Growing up with experiences like these helps Joubert to anticipate their behaviour and be ready for the shot! I couldn’t be more proud!
Yes, nothing better than learning on the job.
Another amazing experience. Well captured!
Thank you very much, Kathy!
Such determination from that elephant cow, and we’ll captured by Joubert!
I’m glad I have Joubert in the car to capture experiences like these while I can keep us out of reach! 😀
Well, yes!
Yikes, your adrenaline must have been high throughout this episode! I can feel my heart pumping just looking at Joubert’s photos!
Thankfully I could get the car pointed in the right direction quick enough so that we could stay out of reach every time she caught up with us, Lori. Having to reverse at speed for such a distance on a narrow, twisting gravel road with an angry behemoth bearing down on us would’ve been much scarier still!
Thank goodness! Can’t imagine trying to go in reverse at speed in such circumstances. 😳
Pragtige foto’s Joubert! Ek sou so effe benoud wees – sy lyk nogal redelik omgekrap (en jy ken ‘n vrou as sy omgekrap is, ne 😉).
Sy was defnitief nie in n sosiale bui nie! 😀
Die koei was beslis uit op ‘n misie om te kyk hoe ver sy jul kan wegdryf. Mooi fotos maar mens kan sien dis nogal skrikwekkend as so ‘n kolos aankom.
Joubert het baie goed gedoen met die foos terwyl ek die kar op die pad moes hou – gelukkig het ons Duster se neus in die regte rigting gewys.
Jul was beslis gelukkig. Ons het een slag op ‘n groot ou renoster afgekom. Toe hy sulke strome urine uitskiet en sy voete stamp het my man baie vinnig agteruit gery om weg te kom. Gelukkig het hy ons nie gevolg nie.
Mens staan verstom oor hierdie diere se krag. Hulle verdien respek.
Beslis. My man wou nog talm maar het besef dis nou of nooit.
Hey! There comes a human; let’s have some fun.
I also thought she got some kind of pleasure from seeing us flee, Beth! 😀
Quite dramatic. Were you tensed or are such incidences normal?
Very dramatic, Rupali. Thankfully our vehicle was pointing in the right direction, so it was easy to get out of reach every time she caught up with us.
The adrenaline is high at this point – having to make way for an elephant that has taken a dislike to you gate-crashing her party – and both you and Joubert have done well getting out of her way and capturing her moody approach respectively. Now – for a painfully law-abiding citizen – I cannot help wondering if you made it through the gate before closing time 🙂 We nearly always have a difference of opinion about this 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thankfully they blocked us on a side-loop, Anne, so we could just return to the main road and were thus back in camp even earlier than we would have been.
🙂
What a sassy little thang! I can’t imagine being chased by such a massive animal!! Amazing photography too.
Thank you very much! It could become dangerous quickly if you underestimate them.
Mothers are zealots of their families. Great shots, Joubert! 🙂
Thank you very much, H.J!
The ears tell us all we need to know! Great photos, Joubert.
Very expressive, isn’t she!?
Wow! Such determination and persistence… fierce. Long live such a species on our planet!
I couldn’t agree more! These are such charismatic animals.
These are incredible photos.
I will pass your kind comment to Joubert, thank you!