If you ever find yourself in the southern regions of Africa, particularly Zambia or Tanzania, you might have the chance to take part in a walking safari

Unlike the safety of a vehicle, walking through the bush brings you eye-to-eye with the raw reality of the wild

For those who might feel nervous, experienced guides take every precaution

They bring along a local scout carrying a Lee-Enfield bolt-action rifle, not to harm animals, but as a last-resort deterrent, firing into the air if a dangerous situation unfolds

Walking safaris are often nicknamed “birds and turds"

The focus is on tracking birds, identifying footprints, and, yes, analyzing droppings

You quickly learn that animal dung tells a fascinating story

For example, elephants are not the most efficient digesters, so their droppings are little ecosystems of their own, nourishing beetles and helping seeds germinate in a nutrient-rich environment

This particular outing, our guide was constantly scanning the ground for tracks and assessing the freshness of what we passed, an unspoken but crucial risk assessment

As we approached a stand of trees, we came across an elephant dung pile so fresh it was still steaming

Our guide raised his hand, signaling us to stop

He leaned in and whispered, “Be very quiet and very still”

I looked up and suddenly saw what he had already noticed and my heart skipped a beat

A solitary bull elephant was standing just ahead, perfectly camouflaged in the bushes

Several things about the situation were concerning

Elephants are herd animals; the fact that this one was alone hinted at trouble

The wind had been in our favour, which explained how we got so close unnoticed

The elephant then looked at us, flared his ears, classic pre-charge behavior

Our local scout raised his rifle

We stood frozen, silent, adrenaline pumping

Even the most confident in the group suddenly looked pale

Then something unexpected happened, the scout lowered his rifle and stifled a laugh, hand over his mouth

That’s when we noticed the massive fallen tree between us and the elephant

For the animal to charge, it would have had to push the tree aside, an unlikely choice

We slowly backed away, keeping our eyes on the bull

Later, the guides explained that this was likely a young male who had been kicked out of the herd after a dispute with a dominant bull

He was hiding, nursing his wounds, and probably waiting until he was strong enough to challenge again or get eaten by a passing Lion

That night, we listened carefully for any sounds that might indicate a fight or attack, but none came

We like to think he lived to fight another day

Conclusion

Walking safaris offer far more than just exercise, they teach respect for the bush, its rhythms, and its risks

They remind us that we are visitors in the animals’ world, not the other way around

The experience of standing just meters away from a wild elephant, heart pounding, was a lesson in humility, patience, and the importance of coexistence