African Wildlife Photography Blog | Stories, Prints & Field Notes
The Art of the Wild | Black & White African Photography Journal by Peter Delaney
The Godfather | Grey Ghost Of Etosha| Elephant Wall Art
Discover the majestic Etosha bull elephant, known as "The Godfather," in this captivating wildlife photography blog by Peter Delaney. Explore African elephant behaviour and fine art prints.
The Godfather | Grey Ghost Of Etosha| Elephant Wall Art
Wildlife Photography in Etosha National Park
Capturing the Bull Elephant's Majesty
While he stands knee-deep in the waterhole, his eyes are closed as he dozes off. Now and again, this giant will swish his tail or fill his trunk to spray his massive frame with the cold grey liquid. He is big - 4 meters tall and over 4 tons in weight, he is the "Godfather" as I affectionately call this giant bull elephant. It is two in the afternoon, and the heat is relentless; over 30 degrees Celsius and no shade.
The Godfather
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Canvas Framed | Acrylic Glass | (Ready To Hang)
Loose Unframed On Hahnemühle Photo Rag
It's been the same routine for weeks now. The Godfather and his two shadow bull elephants arrive early afternoon and commandeer the waterhole. This is the only water for 20 sq km, and the animals have travelled all day to drink this life-saving water. But this "Trinity" will not give way or tolerate any other animal to drink in their presence.
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A multitude of animals, springbok, gemsbok, zebra, ostrich, giraffe, and even lion have waited hours for the elephant's departure so that they may quench their thirst. From a photographer’s point of view, watching this action is like manna from the heavens‚ as there are attempted lion kills, sporadic jostles between herd males vying for dominance and occasional visits from a black rhino that appear like spectres as the sun fades below the horizon.
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When the bull elephants do eventually leave, my heart skips a beat as I prepare for the shot that has eluded me for so long. In my mind's eye, I have visualised this scene many times. But for this to happen, I need them to walk towards me. But each day I groan inwardly and at another missed opportunity as the Trinity head off to dust bath in the opposite direction.
Today, however, will be different, as that morning, I had seen the three bulls feeding on a camel thorn tree away from their usual feeding place. Soon it will be time for them to depart. I leave, anticipating their route, and wait silently for them to come into view. I have checked and rechecked my equipment and decided upon the camera and lens combination. I now relax and control my breathing as they come into view.
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The next ten minutes are the bliss of forgetfulness as I zone into the task at hand; only one moment stands out.
“He stands still before me in all his magnificence, raising his trunk filled with the red Kalahari dust. In one fluid movement, he sprays his forehead, and for one brief moment, he is covered in the magic of dust and light”
Author Peter Delaney
The Grey Ghosts of Etosha: Sculpted by Dust, Etched by Time
In Etosha’s blinding salt pans, Africa’s tallest elephants roam like ghosts. Follow Peter Delaney’s intimate encounter with these silent giants of dust and time.
There is a place where giants walk among ghosts—Etosha, a land of shimmering mirages, salt-laden winds, and time-weathered elephants. These are not just any elephants. They are the tallest in Africa, sculpted by scarcity, survival, and the whispers of the past. I had the privilege of walking in their footsteps, witnessing the resilience of one old bull who carried the weight of the desert upon his back.
Grey Ghosts Of Etosha Trek Across the vast expanse of Etosha Pan in seach of food and water
Tracking the Giants
The day had begun in the golden hush of dawn, when the desert light paints the world in hues of fire and shadow. Seven bulls had crossed my path, moving with a slow, deliberate grace that defied their immense size. I followed, keeping my distance, drawn by the quiet rhythm of their journey. In Etosha, water is the pulse of life, and these seasoned travelers knew where to find it.
Hour by hour, they led me deeper into the vast, open expanse until we reached the edge of the Etosha Pan—a blinding white void that stretched beyond the horizon. Here, where the earth cracks like old parchment and the sky swallows sound, ancient springs still bubbled beneath the surface. The bulls knew this well. Without hesitation, they approached, extending their trunks to drink from the life-giving source hidden beneath the salt.
March of The Grey Ghosts | Bull Elephants
"When the wild speaks in black and white... are you listening?"
The Giant’s March by
Then, they appeared from the haze of heat and dust—seven bull elephants in single file, ghostlike in their silence. Towering, timeworn giants, each one carved by decades of desert life. Their hides were landscapes of cracked earth and old battles, tusks mismatched and weathered by use. They moved with a quiet, deliberate grace, conserving every ounce of energy under the unrelenting sun. No trumpeting, no chaos—just the steady, rhythmic march of survivors across the great salt pan. As they drew near, the air seemed to hold its breath. I sat motionless, heart pounding, witnessing a moment so rare and profound that it felt like the desert had offered me a gift.
Grey Ghost | Old Bull Elephant
"Not just a photograph. A moment. A masterpiece. A memory of the wild—etched in black & white."
The Ritual of Dust and Time
After quenching their thirst, the bulls engaged in a ritual as old as their lineage. With practiced precision, they gathered the thick, alkaline mud and coated themselves, transforming into living statues of dust and stone. The Etosha Pan’s white clay served as both armor and identity, shielding them from the relentless sun and parasites. As it dried, it gave them their ghostly hue—a spectral presence in an already dreamlike world.
This old bull stood apart, his gaze lingering upon the horizon. Perhaps he had seen too many seasons, lost too many kin to time and hardship. Or perhaps he was merely content, knowing he had mastered this unforgiving land. As he moved past me, his vast frame eclipsed the dying sun, and for a fleeting moment, he was neither beast nor legend but something more—an echo of Africa’s untamed soul.
Grey Ghost | Hole In Ear | Bull Elephant
"An elephant never forgets. Neither will you."
Why Etosha’s Elephants Matter
Etosha’s elephants are not just survivors; they are sculptors of the land, shaping waterholes with their tusks, dispersing seeds that grow into sheltering trees, and carrying the wisdom of generations. But they are also vulnerable. Their tusks, often brittle from mineral deficiencies, remind us that even giants have weaknesses. Their migration routes, once endless, are now hemmed in by human expansion.
As photographers and storytellers, we must do more than capture their beauty—we must honor their story. Etosha’s elephants are more than just subjects for a lens; they are testaments to endurance, resilience, and the fragile balance between survival and loss.
And so, I leave you with this: If you ever find yourself on the edge of the Etosha Pan, where the land meets the sky and time stands still, watch closely. You may glimpse the Grey Ghosts—moving, vanishing, enduring. Just as they always have.
Grey Ghost | Young Bull Elephant
“For those who see beauty in simplicity, and strength in stillness.”
To witness Etosha’s giants through my lens, browse my collection of black-and-white fine art prints. Each piece tells a story of Africa’s untamed wilderness, capturing moments that stand outside of time.