Literature

It was my third trip to Amboseli. After I already had single bulls and also "Mommy & Me" "in the box", it was my biggest wish to find a mighty herd of elephants. Of course, you can see them in large numbers inside the park, but then very scattered while grazing and often high bushes also disturb the picture. Outside the park is probably the most beautiful place to photograph elephants: in a dried up lake bed at the foot of the Kilimanjaro. 
Unfortunately, the so-called "crossings" - the crossing of this unvegetated area by elephants - have become very rare, because due to the advancing climate change, there has been enough fresh grass everywhere for years, so that the need for this long march for the animals is no longer given. Nevertheless, one late afternoon in August I was very lucky: my guide Juma spotted a herd with his binoculars in the far distance, that was on its way to cross the dried lake bed. 
We drove off, it must have taken 20 minutes and my impatience grew with every kilometer we covered. As we got closer, I asked Juma to keep about 1 km distance and to drive far around the herd in order to stop directly in their direction with a sufficient lead. I got out of the car and lay flat on my stomach in the lake bed - the family was surely still 400 m away. I asked Juma to drive the Landcruiser farther away so they wouldn't feel disturbed and maybe change their running direction. My tension was rising. Still the mighty animals ran like on a string in a row behind each other, led by the matriarch. They stopped an estimated 20 meters in front of me, they saw me and decided to stop for a moment. Slowly the other animals came to the right and left of her, curious to see what lay in front of them in the middle of the dry plain, the two calves integrated protectively between the larger ones. 
Now they stood there, perfectly lined up for me, all heads facing me, their powerful ears erect, showing curiosity, without raising their heads, which would cause fear or threat.After a short while the matriarch decided to continue the silent march - making a small circle around me - my wish was granted: what a family portrait of a herd of elephants, so symmetrical and perfect in the late afternoon light of the low sun! Thank you, Amboseli!