These tourists got a nasty shock as their investigation of the Paul Kruger monument placed them right in the path of a herd of unhappy elephants!

Oscar Betts

Andre Schwab said he and his group had just “stopped on the bridge to see what wildlife we could spot” when they were lucky enough to catch the elephant herd right as they started to cross the road.

Several other visitors to the Kruger National Park had seen them as well, and many of them were already out of their vehicles to get a better view of the amazing animals.

It might be tempting to forego the rules on occasion, but instances like these remind us why they exist.

Andre said that the “matriarch was extremely aware of the people out of their car” from the beginning, and as the head of the herd it’s no surprise she’s keeping an eye out for any potential threats.

Matriarch elephants are the caretakers of their families, responsible for the safety of every elephant in their herd. Elephants are intelligent animals, but like any other, they will act aggressively when they feel threatened.

This herd had some younger members with it, meaning all of these elephants would have been even more on guard, as they are extremely protective of their young.

The matriarch took her time surveying the situation as the people milled about getting their pictures, and the rest of the herd emerged from the brush behind her, grouping together on the road.

Two unlucky tourists had been taking the time to look at the monument to Paul Kruger, but their return path to their vehicle took them across the route which the matriarch was apparently planning to use to lead her herd to safety.

At this point, presumably perceiving these two tourists as a threat that was trying to cut off her herd’s escape route, the matriarch charged, taking the rest of her herd with her.

It’s difficult to imagine what it must be like to be charged by the largest land animals on the planet, but it can’t be a pleasant experience. With their strength and tusks, an unprepared human wouldn’t last very long at all.

Despite the opportunity to see animals like these in their natural habitats, it’s important to respect the strength they possess, and remember that they will act aggressively if they feel they are being provoked.

Luckily, the crowd was able to help the two tourists who found themselves sprinting across an open field as the whole elephant herd moved towards them.

Elephants use a tactic called mock charging, which means they don’t always intend to attack immediately.

Instead, they’re trying to gauge exactly how much of a danger a potential threat may be, and they’re seeing if they can scare it away first.

It can be difficult to recognize whether a charge is real or not, and even harder to think in the moment, but when animals are trying to scare something else away they generally make themselves look as big as possible.

If an elephant has its ears spread out, then it’s probably not a real charge.

Making a lot of noise is the best way to deter a mock charge, as the crowd does here, shouting to warn the tourists as well as deter the elephants.

The best option is to never be in a situation where an elephant considers any king of charge necessary, which means remaining safely in the vehicle, and respecting the space of these animals.