A moment of respite from the sweltering heat and panic of the dry season. It's November, and we're in the splendid Liwonde National Park, Malawi. I've had a shot like this in mind for years, reflecting the connection between a young elephant and its mother.
Back in 2021, I was working at Mvuu Lodge in Liwonde, and, one morning, went on a drive with one of the fantastic guides working there. We spotted a large herd of elephants making their way toward the floodplain to reach the Shire River, with a few young babies. The matriarch was nervous - this was a vulnerable situation for them - and the other females displayed their jumpiness too. Their jerky movements kicked up a lot of dust, and the babies were trying to navigate this rush of legs, trunks and tails. Photographically, this provides a fantastic opportunity to try and frame a baby elephant with other elephants for an immersive image. Suddenly, it all became a bit much for the young baby pictured here who ran toward its mother, resting against her trunk as if to recharge, if only for a few seconds.
