Legendary actor John Huston teamed up with The American Sportsman to travel to Kenya in 1969 in search of the legendary Ahmed the Elephant.
Huston camps on the slope of active volcano Mount Marsabit in the desert of Northern Kenya to begin his search and exploration with Marsabit National Reserve park warden and game ranger Peter Jenkins. Jenkins relates about having formed an intimate relationship with the colossus Ahmed but that the elephant is so confident of himself that he shies away from no human.
Huston is then able to have an engaging conversation with Dr Perez Olindo, the acclaimed conservationist who at age 27 became Kenya’s first Director of National Parks, the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Olindo praises the incredible amount and quality of work that park rangers are able to do through, not resources, but their tireless dedication. Olindo relates how on a budget of only $90,000 annually, his men are able to maintain 1,500 sq. miles of what he considered to be the most beautiful national park in the world.
Huston is delighted to be free from calendars or schedules and revels in his ability to search for Ahmed in earnest with Peter Jenkins.
Born in 1919, his tusks were said to weigh almost 150 lbs. each at the time of his death in 1974. Ahmed enjoyed Presidential protection, including five armed guards as escorts.
Huston now proceeds to team up with Tsavo National Park Senior Game Warden David Sheldrick who demures when praised as the foremost expert elephants on Earth. “After 22 years, I don’t think anyone can really call himself an expert on African elephants.” Sheldrick relates that the largest tusk he had ever seen weighed 173 lbs.
That night at camp all the creature comforts are enjoyed with the group, including Irish professional hunter Liam Lynn. A lively game of backgammon is had over copious amounts of scotch and cigars.
Tales of past hunts and elephant encounters are shared by all, much to the delight of Huston.
Next up, Huston recounts a meeting with famed Kenyan pilot and game warden Billy Woodley in the Aberdare Mountains.
John Heminway served as production manager and writer of the film, Kurt Gowdy begins the narration which is then taken up by the rich baritone of Huston.