Charged by elephants in Kruger National Park
Tourists stepped out of their vehicles and almost got stomped by a herd of South African elephants. I got charged even without leaving my rental car.
And we thought American tourists were a little loopy around what they must think are tame zoo animals in national parks.
We all saw the video (below) of the woman bluff charged by a female grizzly bear while taking photos outside her car in Yellowstone National Park this year.
Well, hold my beer, said a bunch of South Africans, when they stepped outside their vehicles only to have a herd of elephants run past them in Kruger National Park (video below).
When I spent nine days in Kruger, I knew enough to stay inside my rental car β with the motor running.
One time I came across a matriarchal herd of elephants. I could tell something had upset them, just by their behavior. Nevertheless, I aimed my telephoto at a female elephant and calf, waiting for them to walk out of the bush.
Turns out they didnβt walk, they ran β straight at me (BWO photo, above). I snapped a couple photos before stepping on the gas and spinning gravel. I heard a huge elephant trumpet as I pulled out of range.
Junior sprinted right alongside mother, as though he wanted to see her stomp that white tin can into a pancake β with me in it.