As I was born and grew up in South Africa, this means the African elephant. My closest experience of elephants was touching a free, but human-accustomed, young elephant at a game park near Harare, Zimbabwe and being visited very closely by some elephants during an overnight on a game platform in Hwange game park, also in Zimbabwe. In my view, the finest writing on elephants is an epic poem by Heathcote Williams. And Gautama Buddha was consequently patient, strong, meek And unforgetful.
Elephants walk on the tips of their toes.
Elephant paths in the Congo Basin mountains are near vertical. They can move in total silence without leaving a trace. The elephant seems unembarrased by its bulk. And their rocks are no Milk Duds. In the center of a protective circle.