elephant safari gone wrong

• Women in Journalism
• KwaZulu-Natal
• Eastern Cape
• Bloemfontein
• Elections 2024
• All Tech News
• Traffic Report
• Lotto Results
• Bafana Bafana
• Betway Premiership
• English Premier League
• CAF Champions League
• UEFA Champions League
• Soccer World Cup 2022
• United Rugby Championship
• Super Rugby
• Rugby Championship
• Varsity Cup
• Rugby World Cup 2023
• Indian Premier League
• Cricket World Cup 2023
• Paris Olympics 2024
• Hollywoodbets Horse Racing
• Entertainment
• Art & Artists
• House of Zwide
• On this Day
• Nelson Mandela
• Blood & Water
• Prison Journalism
• Studentlife News
• Study Abroad
• Studentlife Entertainment
• Studentlife Food
• Studentlife Health and Fitness
• Studentlife Lifestyle
• Studentlife Opinion
• Studentlife Sport
• Studentlife Tech
• Student Jobs
• Fashion and Beauty
• Local Celebs
• International Celebs
• All Travel News
• Travel South Africa
• Travel International
• Move to USA
• Move to New Zealand
• Move to the UK
• Move to Canada
• Move to Australia
• Move to South Africa
• Health & Fitness
• Parenting & Kids
• Sex, Love & Relationships
• Money Matters
• Start-up Africa
• My Business
• Art & Artists
• Health & Fitness
• Parenting & Kids
• Newsletters
• Terms, Conditions, Privacy & GDPR

Copyright Blue Sky Publications (Pty) Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

thesouthafrican.com is a division of Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Reproduction without permission prohibited

• Business & Finance

Home » WATCH: Motorist gets safari surprise as elephant rampages vehicle

WATCH: Motorist gets safari surprise as elephant rampages vehicle

A safari went very wrong recently, when a motorist at Kruger National Park was treated to an unwelcome interaction with an elephant. Watch…

A safari went very wrong recently, when a man inside his vehicle at Kruger National Park was treated to an unwelcome interaction with an elephant. Watch…

Safari gone wild

Safaris, while most of the time are incredible, awe-inspiring experiences, can sometimes be jaw-dropping for all the wrong reasons.

This was made evident recently when a motorist at Kruger National Park met with an elephant that wasn’t very pleased to see him and his vehicle there.

ALSO READ: Lion’s Head named best free tourist attraction in Africa

As reported by IOL , the video went viral on TikTok after it showed the elephant smashing into a car’s windscreen at South Africa’s Kruger National Park.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Cheetah struts into safari lodge near Kruger National Park

According to the video’s caption, posted by TikTok user @sahiofficial, “an elephant pressed on a car, shattering the windshield, but the occupants were unharmed, highlighting the elephant’s strength and the car’s durability”.

ALSO READ: UPDATE: What happened to the cheetah that strolled into safari lodge?

“I only watch wildlife from the safety of my sofa”

The incredible video has since received over 1.2 million views, 31 000 likes and over 2 000 comments.

Comments on the video range from sympathetic to hilarious.

User @thato_m___ said: “What do you say to insurance? 😭”.

While @sweery222 added: “Hope you’re okay. I would’ve panicked and reversed which is probably not ideal. 😭”.

@Rochelle Arendse210 joked: “I only watch wildlife from the safety of my sofa 🤣”.

And @Margaret Nyange advised: “you are supposed to be super quiet when you come close to wild elephants…am a Kenyan I know this by experience”.

Check out the video below:

@sahihoffical An elephant pressed on a car, shattering the windshield, but the occupants were unharmed, highlighting the elephant’s strength and the car’s durability. #fy #fyp #fypシ #elephant #press #car #viral #foryou #sahihoffical ♬ Originalton – Sahih 🫵🏽 ✪

According to details on IOL , Kruger National Park spokesperson Isaac Phaahla, commented on the unfortunate event, saying that they had not had a report of the incident, but did advise on the dos and don’ts on watching elephants on safari at the park or any other park.

ALSO READ: South African lodge features on World’s 50 Best Hotels list

Phaahla said that visitors should keep a safe distance, respect the animal’s right of way and to be vigilant around a breeding herd.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES BY SUNDEEKA MUNGROO

Is jy Afrikaans? Kliek hier vir nuus in jou taal!

Share this article

• PETS & ANIMALS

Aggressive elephant lifts safari car filled with tourists into the air in South Africa

A frightening moment for a group of tourists in South Africa was caught on camera when an elephant approached their safari truck and partially lifted it up into the air.

The incident happened March 18 in Pilanesberg National Park, northwest of Johannesburg.

The group of local South Africans were touring the area when they got too close to the elephant bull to take pictures. That's when the large animal became aggressive and approached the safari truck.

Video from the scene shows the elephant lifting the front portion of the vehicle with its tusks before letting it drop to the ground. Screaming can be heard in the video.

The guide backed up the vehicle and slammed his hand against what appears to be the door in attempt to convince the elephant to stop.

The tour operator Mankwe Game Trackers told ABC News they understand the elephant was in musth, a periodic state of the bull elephant characterized by aggressive behavior and a surge of testosterone levels.

Nobody was hurt in the encounter, but the park offered counseling for those who were the most rattled.

Related Topics

• SOUTH AFRICA
• SOUTH AFRICA TOURISM
• CAUGHT ON VIDEO

Top Stories

Arson suspect to appear in court as firefighters battle Line Fire

4.7-magnitude earthquake hits Malibu area, USGS says

LAUSD student found dead in pool at school in Westlake District

• 2 hours ago

Newsom brings back harsh penalties for smash-and-grab robberies

Woman in 405 Fwy chase crash gets diversion program, not jail

Animal cruelty suspect leaving poisonous foods for dogs in Pasadena

Bridge Fire destroys dozens of homes, grows to 50K acres

Georgia school shooting suspect hid in bathroom before attack: GBI

Videos show terrifying moment bull elephant lifts safari truck

The safari guide who warded off the elephant was praised by wildlife experts.

Frightened tourists can be seen ducking between seats during a tense standoff between a bull elephant and a safari truck in Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa.

Videos of Monday’s incident show a bull elephant lifting the 22-seat truck up several times with his trunk before letting it drop. The driver can be heard calling for the elephant to "go away" and slapping his hand against the side of the truck to scare away the animal.

Hendry Blom, a bystander who caught the incident on camera, told ABC News: "We were definitely scared, especially for the people in the truck because we thought they might die."

Another video from inside the truck shows frightened tourists cowering on the floor of the vehicle. One woman can be heard praying as the elephant approaches.

MORE: Global warming could increase risk of human-elephant conflict, researchers say

Poncho Mogodiri, field operations manager of Mankwe Game Trackers, the tour company involved in the incident, told ABC News the guide and guests were in animal hide when the bull elephant approached. "Hides provide you with the rare opportunity to unobtrusively view the wildlife and birds at close quarters," according to Pilanesberg National Park.

Mogodiri said some of the tourists "came too close to the elephant to take pictures and he started getting aggressive."

The guide's actions -- revving the engine, slamming car doors and shouting to ward the elephant away -- have been widely praised by wildlife experts. Mogodiri said the guide reacted "by the book."

"Anyone that’s worked with elephants will tell you when a bull like that charges, you don’t turn and run, you need to make as much noise and stand your ground," said Ron Magill, communications director at Zoo Miami.

MORE: 80-year-old man pleads guilty to genetically engineering giant hybrid sheep in 'audacious scheme,' DOJ announces

Mogodiri confirmed the bull was in musth, or when an elephant "experiences an increase in reproductive hormones and becomes highly aggressive," according to the Pilanesberg National Park website.

No one was injured in the incident, though Mankwe Game Trackers told ABC News one family had been offered counseling after being left "extremely rattled." The Pilanesberg National Park said it will be conducting an internal investigation of the incident.

Related Topics

Popular reads.

How to watch the Harris-Trump ABC News debate

• Sep 10, 8:55 PM

Fact-checking Harris and Trump presidential debate

• Sep 11, 7:08 AM

Suspect at large in freeway shooting

• Sep 8, 11:18 PM

Early polls say Harris won the presidential debate

• Sep 11, 2:19 PM

4 dead in shooting at Georgia high school

• Sep 4, 10:47 PM

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

• Rest of World News

Safari gone wrong: Elephant pulls woman out of vehicle, tramples her to death in Zambia

About the Author

At TOI World Desk, our dedicated team of seasoned journalists and passionate writers tirelessly sifts through the vast tapestry of global events to bring you the latest news and diverse perspectives round the clock. With an unwavering commitment to accuracy, depth, and timeliness, we strive to keep you informed about the ever-evolving world, delivering a nuanced understanding of international affairs to our readers. Join us on a journey across continents as we unravel the stories that shape our interconnected world. Read More

Visual Stories

Terrifying moment wild elephant tries to FLIP safari tourist bus in rampage lifting vehicle off ground with its trunk

• Neha Dhillon , Foreign News Reporter
• Published : 14:08, 20 Mar 2024
• Updated : 16:31, 20 Mar 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

THIS IS the terrifying moment a territorial male bull elephant charged at a safari truck filled with tourists.

The footage shows how the gigantic 11ft elephant attacks the bonnet of the truck with its trunk, again and again, in a bid to knock it over.

The safari truck, which was filled with tourists , is pushed onto its rear wheels by the force of the elephant and almost topples over before it thuds down - somehow upright.

The aggressive bull elephant begins the process again.

He takes a few steps backwards before charging at the tourists with all of its might once more.

A passenger on-board the truck also captured the incident, which shows the driver frantically trying to reverse the truck away from the charging elephant.

read more safaris gone wrong

Moment angry rhino flips keeper's car three times while she's trapped inside

Terrifying moment ‘dumb’ tourist opens window to stroke lion on safari

It also becomes clear that the only thing separating the driver and the ferocious animal is the truck's glass windscreen.

The footage, which has since been posted to social media , has seen a wealth of criticism directed at the driver.

Some YouTube users have speculated that the safari group must have gotten too close to the wild animal, while others have said the elephant must have felt threatened.

However, one social media user claimed that they had seen a video that revealed more about the situation.

Most read in The Sun

Car mounts pavement and hits three schoolgirls in shocking hit-and-run

Coronation Street star dies as heartbreaking tributes paid to soap legend

Maps reveal best and worst NHS hospitals in England - see where yours ranks

Teacher admits having sex with schoolboy, 16, after 'wearing tight leggings'

The user wrote: "Unfortunately the video only shows the end of the story and not the complete story.

"The elephant entered the car park whilst guests were both on foot in the open and on the walkway to the hide.

"The guide sat there quietly with his engine off until the elephant started to approach the vehicle.

"The elephant didn't back off and kept coming closer, not responding to warning shouts and door slamming and slapping as they normally will."

The user went on to claim that the guide only turned on the engine and revved the truck in a desperate attempt to protect himself and those on the safari.

They added: "I hope the full video is released because I am sure you will all feel some compassion towards the guide and how absolutely terrified he must have been, whilst taking actions to protect others in a very difficult situation.

"I have no doubt that the guide and guests have been traumatised by this event and I beg for your understanding until you too have seen the full video. It makes so much more sense."

This is not the first time a tourist vehicle has been attacked by a testosterone-fuelled male bull elephant.

Footage from November 2021 showed the moment a 13ft tall elephant charged at tourists that had come too close to his herd.

Although both trucks stopped on a dirt road, it appears as though this was a little too close for the bull elephant's liking - who becomes angry and charges at the first vehicle.

The guide had no choice but to jump out of his seat, as the elephant’s tusks sliced through the bodywork of the safari truck.

The elephant then lifted the 11-seater vehicle off the ground and pushes it off the road. 

Bull elephants, when they are ready to breed, see their testosterone levels multiplying by up to 60 times.

The become sexually aggressive and highly violent towards humans and they secrete a tar like discharge on the side of their heads which warns of their sexual arousal. 

READ MORE SUN STORIES

How to get hundreds of pounds back if you miss your flight even if it's your fault

Schoolgirl, 14, paralysed in hospital after collapsing with a bout of tonsillitis

Back in 2017, a British tourist was also subjected to a rampaging elephant who chased her for over a mile.

Footage taken at the time showed the enormous animal flapping its ears and running behind the safari Jeep, while the woman can be heard screaming at her driver.

• Safari holidays and tours

• Travel Updates

Terrifying moment wild bull elephant attacks a safari tourist bus

A huge bull elephant tried to flip a tourist bus during a safari with the wild footage caught on film.

Jetstar flight forced into snap landing

‘Life lesson’: Aussie’s warning over Bali fee

Hotel staffers’ desperate act as typhoon hits

The terrifying moment a bull elephant charged and tried to flip a safari vehicle has gone viral, with the moment caught on video from a bystander.

The footage starts with the elephant approaching the front of the vehicle where the guide sits in the driver seat, before the animal starts nudging the bonnet with its trunk.

The open-air truck, which has passengers seated in the back half of the vehicle, is lifted off the ground as the elephant pushes again and again in an attempt to flip the truck off its wheels.

The video pivots to the point-of-view of a passenger, who is filming from within the vehicle, showing the driver frantically backing away from the elephant as it continues to charge towards him.

From this viewpoint, the male elephant is just centimetres away from the driver’s face — with the pair separated only by glass.

While some on social media described the vision as “traumatising” and blamed the driver for getting too close to the wild animal, one anonymous poster claimed they’d received video that revealed a little more detail in defence of the guide.

“Unfortunately the video only shows the end of the story and not the complete story,” the anonymous poster wrote alongside the video on YouTube.

“The elephant entered the car park while guests were both on foot in the open and on the walkway (fairly secure).

“The guide sat there quietly with his engine off until the elephant started to approach the vehicle. The elephant didn’t back off and kept coming closer, not responding to warning shouts and door slamming and slapping as they normally will.”

The anonymous poster claims in a desperate bid to scare the elephant off, the guide started his engine and revved the truck.

“Whether or not the guide took the correct action next is not for me to say,” they wrote.

“He started his engine and revved it, hoping the elephant would leave the car park.

“I hope the full video is released because I am sure you will all feel some compassion towards the guide and how absolutely terrified he must have been, while taking actions to protect others in a very difficult situation.

“I have no doubt that the guide and guests have been traumatised by this event.”

It’s not the first time a tourist vehicle has got a little too close to one of these majestic creatures in the wild.

Last year, a Perth family were lucky to walk away uninjured after they were ambushed by a female elephant in search of food.

More Coverage

In the footage filmed by the Basnayake family, who were holidaying in Sri Lanka at the time, the elephant called Nitra suddenly emerges from the trees along the side of the road and heads directly for the van.

In a split second, Nitra smashes the driver’s window with her tusks and plunges her trunk through the window, rummaging for food.

In the footage, father-of-two Kasun Basnayake says “it’s okay, it’s okay” to calm his children as the giant elephant sniffs for food.

A Jetstar flight was forced into an unscheduled landing just hours into a flight to Melbourne, with passengers waiting hours to reboard.

An Aussie has warned travellers to Bali after she was stung with a fee at the airport.

This is the heart-stopping moment staff desperately try to hold hotel doors shut as the deadly Typhoon Yagi violently hits Vietnam.

10 safari horror stories that will chill you to the bone

Going on safari can be a thrilling and remarkable experience. But in the midst of all the excitement, guides are quick to point out that safaris are not vacations in which you can safely sit idly by.

The purpose of many wildlife preserves and safaris is to raise awareness for the receding natural habitat of some of the world’s most beautiful and fascinating plants and animals. But sometimes, as we encroach too much on these natural predators' homes, the results can quickly turn tragic.

Read on for 10 safari horror stories.

In 2018, a 22-year-old woman was mauled to death by a lion.

While on vacation in a game reserve outside Pretoria in South Africa , a 22-year-old woman was attacked and killed by a lion as she took photos outside the fenced area of a camp. A lioness was charging after an Impala (an antelope), but encountered the young woman instead.

The victim was not staying at the camp, and instead was a guest of a friend and was intending to interview the camp’s manager before tragedy struck.

A gorilla pushed a woman to the ground as it charged past in Rwanda.

In video footage captured in March 2016, a new husband happened to film his wife as a gorilla ran past her, pushing her to the ground.

Gemma Cosgriff was on her honeymoon in Rwanda when the incident took place, and together with her husband, had been observing animals at Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, according to The Mirror. And although the fall seemed to be quite terrifying, Cosgriff was not seriously injured.

A former "Game of Thrones" editor was mauled to death by a lion in South Africa.

In 2015, 29-year-old Katherine Chappell was being driven through a lion park in South Africa when a lioness took hold of the graphic effects creator. Witnesses noted that Chappell had her windows down and was taking photographs of her surroundings just moments before the lioness attacked, according to Express.

Chappell was not in Johannesburg simply to see the sights — rather, the film editor was on a volunteer mission with the aim of protecting wildlife throughout the country.

An elephant charged at a billionaire tourist and his guide in Tanzania.

Nearly 10 years ago, billionaire Tom Siebel, the founder and CEO of C3 IoT , was on a walking tour with a guide in Tanzania.

Near a watering hole, Siebel and his guide spotted a 6-ton elephant, which proceeded to charge the group. The animal attacked Siebel, shattering his leg and causing the iPhone in his pocket to explode into 200 pieces, according to Forbes. Siebel has since undergone 16 surgeries to save his leg, but he’s one of the lucky few who have survived such a massive attack.

A leopard attacked a safari guide by jumping into the open-top jeep in South Africa.

In 2015, safari guide Curtis Plumb was leading a tour in an open-top 4x4 jeep when a leopard jumped into the vehicle. Plumb was on a routine safari route in South Africa's Kruger National Park when he spotted the animal, and stopped the car so that tourists could get a closer look, according to Mirror. At this point, the big cat suddenly attacked.

Tourists in Plumb’s jeep attempted to help the guide fight off the predator, but were unsuccessful in their efforts. Ultimately, it was Plumb himself who managed to pry himself loose. Luckily, he lived to tell the tale, despite serious injuries. The animal was put down following the incident.

Two tourists were trampled to death by elephants after getting too close in Zambia.

Last year, a 57-year-old woman and a 64-year-old man were trampled to death by elephants at the Maramba River Lodge in Livingstone, Zambia. Zambian Police Service spokesperson Danny Mwale told Express that the Belgium and Netherlands nationals were killed after coming too close to the wildlife in attempts to take photos.

The woman, identified later as Sabine Goossens, had been living in Africa for 10 years, and had invited her friend Wim Van Griensven to visit. Reports suggested that Griensven died when he attempted to rescue Goossens from the charging elephant.

A 75-year-old grandmother was killed by a hippo while on safari in Tanzania.

Last August, a 75-year-old businesswoman named Carol Sue Kirken was killed by a hippopotamus while on a family vacation in Tanzania, according to The Daily Mail. Described as an avid world traveler and local philanthropist, Kirken was on safari with her son Robert, and the duo were observing hippos when the attack took place.

Details around her death were unclear , but hippos are largely considered some of the most dangerous animals in the world, responsible for around 500 human deaths every year. They’re capable of outrunning a human, and have extremely sharp teeth.

A family was attacked by lions while in a UK safari park but lived to tell the tale.

A few years ago, writer Glenys Newton shared a terrifying experience from her childhood with the Guardian . Then 5, Newton went on vacation with her family to Longleat, a safari park in the UK. The group found themselves immediately next to a lion, but unfortunately, the young Newton thought it would be advisable to roll down her window and pat the lion on its head.

Needless to say, the lion did not take kindly to the gesture, roaring as the family frantically rolled up the window. This set the other lions in motion, and soon, they were climbing all over the car, leaving paw-prints as proof, according to Newton. While the car was battered and bruised (and ended up with a flat tire), the occupants of the vehicle were physically unharmed.

A tiger killed a woman on safari after she got out of her car in Beijing.

Video footage provided by NBC News captured the moment a tourist was attacked by a tiger in Badaling Wildlife Park in Beijing. While visitors are told explicitly to remain in their vehicles, the victim can be seen exiting the vehicle and walking around to the driver’s side door just before a tiger attacked her, dragging her away.

A second woman attempted to rescue her, but was killed by another tiger. The first woman sustained critical injuries, while the driver of the car and a child were unharmed.

A buffalo stampede crashed right into a car in South Africa.

Here to prove that it’s not just big cats, elephants, or hippos that are dangerous when it comes to safari, footage filmed in May 2016 and provided by MSN showed a herd of buffalo stampeding and ultimately crashing directly into a passenger car in South Africa's Kruger National Park.

The herd of cape buffalo were moving toward a waterhole when they spotted lions near their water source. This likely caused the animals to panic, and the herd suddenly ran in the opposite direction, barging into a white sedan. The car was nearly tipped over, but amazingly, no one was hurt.

Follow INSIDER on Facebook .

• Main content

Advertisement

Watch: elephant nearly flips safari vehicle in harrowing encounter, share this article.

Safari instructors and trainees at a South African wildlife reserve are fortunate to be alive and uninjured after a harrowing run-in with a bull elephant that nearly flipped their vehicle.

The accompanying footage (two perspectives), captured Sunday at Selati Game Reserve, shows a bull elephant partially lifting and turning the vehicle, spilling at least one occupant.

The first clip shows the elephant aggressively displacing the vehicle with its head and tusks. The footage was captured from inside the vehicle and the scene is chaotic.

In the second video, an instructor repeatedly yells, “Get out!” The occupants quickly exit and scamper toward safer ground as the elephant pauses as if it has issued a sufficient warning.

Video clips showing the encounter were widely shared and on Monday the company involved in the incident, EcoTraining, issued a news release confirming the incident and describing what happened:

“On a routine activity, the EcoTraining instructors and trainees came across a breeding herd of elephants. The vehicle stopped to observe the elephants and give them a chance to settle down. An elephant bull, who was with the breeding herd, mock-charged the vehicle.

“The elephant bull mock-charged again, when they moved forward slowly, and then made contact with the vehicle and displaced it off the road. Once the vehicle had come to a standstill, the trainees were moved to the second vehicle that was parked in close proximity.”

ALSO ON FTW OUTDOORS: Hawaii photographer in full burst mode during rare great white shark encounter

EcoTraining, which is being criticized on social media, quoted Bryan Havemann, general manager of Selati Game Reserve, as saying the vehicle had been damaged but “none of the people on the vehicle were injured.”

EcoTraining added that bull elephants in musth during the breeding season “experience high levels of testosterone and may display aggressive behavior.”

–Note: Video sources were not known at the time of this post

Most Popular

11 photos of taylor swift’s rock 'n' roll outfit on the 2024 mtv vmas red carpet, the 5 best debate memes from kamala harris and donald trump, no, travis kelce didn't respond to elon musk's disgusting tweet after taylor swift's kamala harris endorsement, michelle beadle appears to address shannon sharpe nsfw video rumors with 4 words, donald trump's 'concepts of a plan' debate quote became the perfect, savage sports meme, breanna stewart and wnba players rip cathy engelbert for not denouncing caitlin clark and angel reese fan toxicity, the braves were so perplexed after jorge soler destroyed the team's dugout ipad.

Please enter an email address.

Thanks for signing up.

Please check your email for a confirmation.

Something went wrong.