Elephants don’t take kindly to tourists entering their territory
Two tourists walking back to their cars after visiting the Kruger Monument outside the entrance to South Africa’s famous Kruger National Park were sent running for their lives when a herd of elephants charged toward them.
Andre Schwab, 27, had stopped on the bridge to see what wildlife could be spotted when a herd of elephants emerged out of the bush and started crossing the road. He captured video of the encounter.
“The matriarch was extremely aware of the people out of their car, and she seemed quite unhappy with two tourists walking right along their path,” Schwab told Latest Sightings. “She, and the rest of her herd, started charging towards the two women that were looking at the monument commemorating Paul Kruger.”
Latest Sightings posted Schwab’s video:
“It was the women’s lucky day, and they made it to safety by the skin of their teeth,” Schwab told Latest Sightings. “Be aware of your surroundings and the behavior of the animals. This is a national park with wild animals.”
South African National Parks has a regulation that states guests are to remain in their vehicles unless in special designated areas. But one safari company states on its website that the Paul Kruger monument “is right outside the [park entrance] gates so guests can leave their vehicles and walk up to it for a closer look.”
Also on FTW Outdoors: Hunter finds lost GoPro camera with footage taken by bear
In the video, you can also see other people walking off to the left of the monument near some trees.
Though the elephants seemed to come out of the bush in surprising fashion, commenters on YouTube were relentless in their criticism of the tourists with one quoting Forest Gump: “Stupid is as stupid does.”
Fortunately, the elephants didn’t continue to chase the tourists, and nobody was hurt.
“The sighting ended with everyone laughing at how quickly this could have gone south,” Schwab said.
Photos courtesy of Latest Sightings.