This past month I visited Amboseli National Park and I met Craig the tusker–a wildlife legend. It was an absolute privilege and life-long memory. Amboseli is home to one of the largest concentrations of elephants in east Africa. There are probably more than 2000 living in this small park. That’s what you come here for. Amboseli is also home to some of the last “tuskers” remaining in Africa. Tuskers are very large-tusked elephants and there are thought to be about 25 remaining. Craig is Kenya’s largest tusker and is now 51 years old. (You can ask the googles-he is quite famous!) Last week, with the help of David, one of his guardians in the wild, I was able to spend 2 evenings with him and his tusker pal, Pal. Meeting any elephant up close is always an emotional experience and I have been blessed to have had many close and exciting encounters.(Like this one in Zambia.) But coming face-to-face with a huge bull, wielding tusks that weigh in at over 50KG a piece, well, that was EPIC!

Meet Craig the Tusker!

Meeting Craig’s Guardian–A Conservation Hero!

David is a Maasai who has been following Craig for years. He is one of the conservation gaurdians trying to keep these magnificent animals from disappearing. Tuskers have a genetic marker that results in their huge tusks. If these boys cannot continue to mate, we will lose them forever. I was in awe of David as much as I was Craig! (Elephant guardian was never mentioned at career counselling in high school…)

For more than two hours each night we hung out with Craig, watching him snack his away around the bush as the light disappeared. He is a very mellow and relaxed elephant. Pal, on the other hand, was a little more feisty. So, we kept a respectable distance from him. When Pal moved off, I was able to get out of the truck with David to try shooting from ground level. This is not something you get a chance to do often and elephants are the absolute best subject for this kind of perspective, exaggerating further their enormous size! I have not had much practice doing this, plus, I confess to being so mesmerized I forgot to adjust settings on my cameras.

At one point, I was sitting in the dirt with my back against the truck tire and Craig came sauntering by, likely just a couple meters away. He definitely didn’t fit in the viewfinder! My brain was exploding–let’s just say the horizon was not the only thing tilting. Thankfully, his “fifth” leg was mostly retracted when he sauntered by. Those are known to swing widely and I was at risk of being slapped. (Shot at 24m)

I can’t even describe what these seconds felt like. I am still processing. He moved so slowly and lightly, but I could feel him through the ground. I was star-struck for sure.

Craig at Sundown

For most of our time together the light was dull; gray with flat, overcast skies. The worst kind of light for photography. But, as luck would have it, a few moments of sunshine broke through right as the sun was going down. It was wonderful to see him with a splash of golden light!

My second evening was very different, but just as magical. This time Craig was hanging out in thicker vegetation, so photographing him was much more challenging. However, just being able to watch him move through his world, in and out of dense foliage, stopping to browse, scratch himself on a fallen tree, or dust himself, was, in a word, delightful.

These two evenings with Craig were nothing short of magical! To be in the presence of this magnificent and mellow giant was such an enormous privilege. I have no doubt it will stay with me always.

Thanks!
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Cheers,

NJ