A visit to the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park went awry when a bull elephant attacked a car driving along the road from Memorial Gate to Hilltop resort on 15 June.
The elephant appeared relaxed as the driver allowed it right of way, when it rested its trunk on the car’s bonnet. Taken aback, the driver tried moving away. The elephant, however, had different plans and stuck its tusk through the passenger side window.
‘It lifted the car like rugby players performing a lifting in a line-out. It unfortunately, decided not to complete this common rugby action choosing instead to throw the car into a ditch on the side of the road,’ conservation authority Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife stated in a Twitter post.
“They lived to tell the tale”. A short story of an encounter one of the guests had with a bull elephant in Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park (HIP).#kznwildlifeexxperience#unforgettableexperiences pic.twitter.com/C27KVyMVJO
— EZEMVELO KZNWildlife (@EZEMVELOKZNWild) June 16, 2022
The elephant continued to push into the back of the car and only backed off after Field Ranger Mr Velenkosini Musawenkosi Ntombela fired a warning shot.
Physically unharmed but visibly shaken, the visitors retreated to the safety of an Ezemvelo car. Arrangements were made for them to go home, as well as to remove the damaged car.
Ezemvelo Acting CEO Mr Ntsikelelo Dlulane stated ‘I am thankful that there was no loss of human life and also for the fact that, according to the early reports, both occupants survived the ordeal without any visible injuries.
‘My appreciation also goes to Mr Ntombela who remained calm under the trying circumstances. We would never know what would have happened had he panicked and decided to shoot the elephant.’
Picture: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
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