Maasai preserve biodiversity in Ngorongoro, a former volcano in Tanzania. Safari guests can help the sanctuary by visiting.

Early in the morning the cool night air still hangs like a veil between the trees. It is steaming and blooming, you look out the window and think you see creatures scurrying about in the thicket. And he overlooks the young bull elephant, who calmly and perfectly camouflaged in the shadow play of the leaves is cutting down a banana plant on the side of the road.

“A teenager,” says Paulo Siololo Laizer and slowly drives a little closer. The elephant looks over with interest. “At that age you never know how they are.” Means what? “Wait until he goes.”