# @theryan_reynolds on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CiNeJ1dr_G8
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/20575172-theryan-reynolds-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/04a3cb6344.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-09-07T15:26:29.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Ryan P Reynolds (@a_RyanReynolds) — https://gondola.cc/a_RyanReynolds

## Caption

I’m finally sharing images from what may be the coolest thing that has ever happened to me. 

After a long day of driving through Mkomazi National Park in Tanzania we were heading back out to be done for the day. 

On our way out though we spotted this big family of nine or so elephants across the valley out in the distance. We watched them from the road for awhile and then decided to go wait for them at the waterhole, where we assumed they were headed. 

We sat by the pool of water for another 10 or 15 minutes as the deadline to be out of the park got closer and closer, until we finally saw the first elephant break through the dense bush and into the clearing. 

My younger brother and I were sitting on the roof of our car, completely exposed as the giant matriarch stopped and stared straight at us, deciding whether or not we posed any threat to her family.

After a few tense moments she turned away and led her group past us, within probably no more than 100 feet of where we had parked. 

My favorite part of the whole experience came right after that, when the baby elephants first saw the water and broke their orderly formation to run towards it, trumpeting with excitement. 

We cut it as close as we dared before we had to leave to make it  back out of the park before it closed, but I will never forget those few precious moments at the waterhole.

#wildlifephotography #sonyalpha #sigma100400mm #a7iii #elephant #animals #wildlife #photo #africa #travel #tanzania #closeencounters #summer

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## Tags

a7iii, sigma100400mm, closeencounters, tanzania, animals, wildlifephotography, summer, photo, africa, sonyalpha, travel, elephant, wildlife

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