This is the heart-stopping moment trail guide Alan McSmith calmly stood up to an elephant charging at him in Kruger National Park.<br /><br />The footage, captured on December 1 in South Africa, shows the elephant charging twice as McSmith faces him without batting an eye, forcing the pachyderm to eventually retreat. <br /><br />"The elephant encounter is an authentic example of how calm energy can influence the behaviour of wild animals," Alan McSmith told Newsflare. <br /><br />"Most trail guides who have seen the video admit that they may have shot the elephant in self-defence, it was that close."<br /><br />"The footage is a testament to elephant's intelligence and complex behavior and shows how humans and animals can connect on a meaningful level," he added. <br /><br />"Therefore, ultimately, the video is about the elephant and not me."
