Deon Kelbrick managed to film the special moment. The elephant was just metres away from him while he filmed its epic gestures.
It used its well-coordinated trunk to throw sand all around it, including at the game viewers!
A fascinating insight into elephant behaviour
An encounter with a cheeky elephant like this one offers a fascinating insight into elephant behaviour and the delicate balance between wildlife and people in protected areas.
This is especially true in game reserves where elephants and vehicles often share the same narrow roads. While such a scene might feel playful or even comical, it is usually rooted in communication, caution, and the animal’s need for space.
A possible warning signal?
Elephants are highly intelligent and emotionally complex animals with a strong awareness of their surroundings. When an elephant scoops up sand or dust with its trunk and flings it toward a vehicle, it is rarely an act of random mischief. In most cases, this behaviour is a warning signal.
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Elephants rely on a range of physical gestures to communicate discomfort or irritation. This is especially true when they feel crowded, surprised, or unsure of another animal’s intentions. A sand toss is often a way saying ‘you are too close’ without escalating to more aggressive behaviour.
Elephant uses large body for theatrics
The elephant turned its body to face different directions, and scooped up the sand with its trunk. This was then splayed out all around it.
At one point it knelt down, resting momentarily on the sand, before stepping up again and turning to face the vehicle with even greater bravado.
Elephant appears to be readying to charge
With its focus on the vehicle, it appeared for a moment that it might even charged and that it was moving towards where Deon sat filming.
The appearance of an elephant can be intimidating. This one presented a majestic form of focus, skill and determination.
Life from the elephant’s perspective
As a game viewer it can be easy forget what life looks like from the animal’s perspective. From the perspective of an elephant, the road belongs to it.
Many park roads cut through ancient migration routes and feeding grounds, and elephants often use these paths because they are easy to walk along.
When vehicles stop too close or fail to give way, elephants may feel challenged or cornered, and throwing sand might be one of the clear visual signals that the animal uses to show its desire for space.
While this elephant’s behaviour might have appeared cheeky, it is more than likely that its actions were deliberate and purposeful.
Elephants learn from a young age how to use body language to express confidence, curiosity, or annoyance, and these gestures become more refined as they mature.
Whatever the reason was for the elephant’s comical behaviour, the memorable moment is one Deon won’ easily forget and has no doubt given him more respect and admiration for elephants than he had before.
