'Game of Stones': An elephant comes to breakfast

Updated
'Game of Stones': An Elephant Comes to Breakfast
'Game of Stones': An Elephant Comes to Breakfast


Don Kogen and his team of rare gem hunters were deep in the African bush tracking a Maasai clan holding an enormous gemstone. They survived the night, but creatures attack in the daylight, too.

As the crew rested at the campsite, an elephant weighing about 4 tons blindsided the camp, leaving the men scrambling to avoid being trampled. While most of the team was outside and saw the beast coming, Don had to be alerted and quickly emerged from his tent.

Trekking through the bush
Trekking through the bush



Elephants kill around 500 people each year worldwide and can run at up to 15mph, so gem expert Gavin explains that it would be "very silly" to get in a footrace with the beast. They remained quiet and still and hoped the elephant would lose interest and move along. The elephant rummaged through the site, tossing aside the sleeping bag Don was just using moments before.

Elephant trashing our campsite and stomping our tents OMG moment Don almost didn?t get out of tent in time
Elephant trashing our campsite and stomping our tents OMG moment Don almost didn?t get out of tent in time



Though the elephant continues to look directly at the crew, she continues exploring and touching everything she can find – bananas, coffee, rice, olive oil, etc. Eventually, the elephant gets bored and moves on.

The food supply was decimated and the caffeine supply was entirely wiped out. Although the crew was visibly shaken, there was no time to dwell on the ruined campsite, so they swiftly packed up what the elephant was kind enough to leave them and ventured deeper into the African bush.

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