WATCH: Students run for their lives during elephant attack

In the video posted by EdwardTheGuide, students flee a safari vehicle while the elephant causes destruction. Picture: Supplied

In the video posted by EdwardTheGuide, students flee a safari vehicle while the elephant causes destruction. Picture: Supplied

Published Nov 30, 2021

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A viral video of a bull elephant attacking a safari vehicle carrying EcoTraining instructors and trainees has gone viral.

The group were on a drive at Selati Game Reserve in Limpopo when they came across a breeding herd of elephants.

In the video posted by EdwardTheGuide, the students flee a safari vehicle while the elephant causes destruction. The guide gestures for them to leave while a guide in another vehicle screams, "Get out, get out, get out."

Some of the students in the video, clearly scared for their lives, drop their belongings when they escape. The elephant, who is believed to be experiencing musth, a periodic condition in bull elephants characterized by highly aggressive behaviour and accompanied by a rise in reproductive hormones, later fled.

— EdwardTheGuide (@EdwardthembaSa) November 29, 2021

Responding to the video, a social media user shared another video of what happened before the attack.

The video shows the vehicle in front of a few elephants. The elephants sounded distressed.

The elephant who attacked the vehicle emerged from the thicket and stormed at the vehicle.

EdwardTheGuide also shared the damage caused by the elephant – one side of the vehicle bent and damaged.

He tweeted: "The Aftermath of Gatsheni’s behavior!I doubt the insurance will pay up!"

In a statement, EcoTraining said both instructors who accompanied the trainees have more than 25 years of experience in the field.

The general Manager of Selati Game Reserve, Bryan Havemann, said, “Although the vehicle was damaged, thankfully none of the people on the vehicle were injured.”

— EdwardTheGuide (@EdwardthembaSa) November 29, 2021

IOL Travel reported a similar kind of incident at Paul Kruger gate at Kruger National Park this year.

Some tourists decided to step out of their car to snap close-up shots of a group of elephants. A few also wanted to capture pictures of the Paul Kruger statue. Some stayed close to their cars while some ventured into the grass.

Some tourists, who were gleefully capturing content, were almost attacked by the elephants as they ran in the veld.

Be aware

Travellers, especially guides, should not tempt fate. They need to respect the animals and give them space. If there were other dangerous animals around, the attack could have been disastrous. Attacks like these can be detrimental to the elephant or other animals as they could be put down.