tourist killed african safari

Charging elephant kills an American woman on 'bucket list trip' in Zambia

An American woman who was on what she had called her "last big trip" was killed when a charging elephant flipped over the car she was traveling in at a national park in Zambia .

The “aggressive” creature buffeted the vehicle carrying six tourists and a guide, tour operator Wilderness said in a statement Tuesday. It said the 79-year-old victim died after Saturday's incident on a game drive at the Kafue National Park in western Zambia.

The company did not name the victim but Rona Wells, her daughter, identified her as Gail Mattson in a post on Facebook. She said her mother died in a “tragic accident while on her dream adventure.”

A video circulating on social media apparently showing the incident shows a large elephant running toward a car, which slows down as the animal approaches its left side. The elephant then flips the vehicle over and the passengers can be heard gasping as the car rolls over.

NBC News does not know the condition or identity of the person who filmed the video.

Photos shared online of the car, which is emblazoned with the logo of the tour operator, show it tipped onto its side after the incident, with a deep dent in two of its side doors.

Wilderness, which describes itself as a “leading conservation and hospitality company” operating in eight African countries, including Zambia, did not respond to NBC News when asked to confirm the authenticity of the video and the photos.

But the tour operator’s CEO, Keith Vincent, said in the statement that the company’s “guides are all extremely well trained and experienced.”

"Sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough,” he added.

Another woman was also injured in the incident and taken to a medical facility in South Africa, the Wilderness statement said, adding that four others were treated for minor injuries.

“It’s extremely rare to see an elephant that irate,” Marlon du Toit, a wildlife photographer and safari guide, told the “TODAY” show Thursday. “Across Africa, there are thousands and thousands of guests on safari on a daily basis with no negative consequences.”

The exact cause of Mattson’s death was unclear, but the company said her body would be repatriated to her family in the United States with the support of local Zambian authorities and the U.S. Embassy in the capital, Lusaka.

“This is a tragic event and we extend our deepest condolences to the family of the guest who died,” the statement added.

NBC News has reached out to Mattson's family for further comment.

Kafue National Park is Zambia’s largest and oldest national park, according to its website, and spans an area of more than 8,000 square miles. Vast regions of the park remain unexplored and the website says it is home to a variety of untamed wildlife.

A 'bucket list trip'

Mattson spent her winters in Sun City West, Arizona, playing bridge and cards, but during the rest of the year, she "travels all over the world," her friend Brenda Biggs told NBC News. Biggs and her husband, John Longabauth, became friends with Mattson when they moved to the area 6 ½ years ago.

Longabauth said Mattson spoke to the couple about her upcoming safari trip about two weeks ago, and called it "one of her bucket list trips." He said she was very excited for the adventure.

Before she left, she gave the couple concert tickets for a show that would happen while she was traveling, telling them to enjoy the concert and "I'll see you when I get back," Longabauth recalled of the conversation.

Biggs said Mattson, who was almost 80 years old, told her that the African safari was her "my last big trip." She said Mattson was "super excited because it was like the culmination of all the trips that she had gone on."

An avid traveler, Mattson took to trips to Europe and Asia, Longabauth recalled, noting that she might have been to South America, too.

Biggs called her friend "flamboyant," "friendly" and "fabulous" and said she loved bright colors. Mattson had taken over Biggs’ job as the event planner for their 200-member bridge club, she said.

"Gail was one of the more up people you'd ever want to meet," Longabauth said. "She was always up. She was always optimistic. She was always seeing the good side of everybody."

Yuliya Talmazan is a reporter for NBC News Digital, based in London.

Rebecca Cohen is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.

Elderly American tourist killed in elephant attack while on safari in Zambia

The tourist died after the attack at Kafue National Park.

An elderly American tourist was killed after an "aggressive" bull elephant attacked a vehicle during a game drive in Zambia, the safari operator said.

The incident took place Saturday morning at Kafue National Park, a Lusaka Police spokesperson confirmed to ABC News. Gail Mattson, 79, was confirmed by the family as the victim.

"An aggressive bull elephant charged the vehicle carrying six guests and a guide who were on a game drive from Lufupa Camp," Wilderness, the company operating the safari, said in a statement to ABC News Wednesday.

MORE: Import of live African elephants and hunting trophies restricted in the US

Four other people received treatment for minor injuries after the incident, the company said.

"The six guests were on the game drive when the vehicle was unexpectedly charged by the bull elephant," Keith Vincent, Wilderness' chief executive officer, said in the statement, adding, that the safari guide's vehicle was "blocked" by the terrain at the time of the attack.

"Our guides are all extremely well trained and experienced, but sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide's route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm's way quickly enough," Vincent said.

Following the attack, Kafue National Park management was immediately called to assist and a helicopter was dispatched to the scene, according to Vincent. Local police, Zambia's Department of National Parks & Wildlife and other authorities are involved in the investigation, he said.

MORE: Global warming could increase risk of human-elephant conflict, researchers say

Wilderness is cooperating with the investigation, Vincent said.

"This is a tragic event and we extend our deepest condolences to the family of the guest who died," he said in the statement. "We are also, naturally, supporting those guests and the guide involved in this distressing incident."

The elderly woman's remains will be repatriated to her family in the U.S. with support from local Zambian authorities and the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka, according to the statement.

MORE: Videos show terrifying moment bull elephant lifts safari truck

Last month, a similar bull elephant attack took place in Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa.

Videos of the March 18 incident show a bull elephant lifting a 22-seat safari truck up several times with his trunk before letting it drop. There were no deaths reported in that incident.

Hendry Blom, a bystander who caught the incident on camera, told ABC News, "We were definitely scared, especially for the people in the truck because we thought they might die."

ABC News' Victoria Beaule contributed to this report.

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American tourist killed after elephant rammed truck on African safari seen smiling in photos before attack

T he American tourist killed by a charging bull elephant that flipped over their safari vehicle in Zambia over the weekend has been identified as an adventurous 79-year-old woman who wanted the trip to be her “last big adventure.”

Mattson, who was visiting from Minnesota, was pictured the day she was killed on the safari vehicle holding a flower, her grieving family told KSTP.

She was one of six tourists with the group Wilderness Zambia who were out on a game drive Saturday in Kafue National Park when they came under attack by the incensed animal.

Terrifying video footage shows the elephant chasing after the safari vehicle moments before it charged the group, tipping the truck over as the guide repeatedly yelled at the creature. 

The passenger continues to record as the elephant flips the vehicle over. 

Family told the outlet that the US Embassy contacted them about her death.

Loved ones described the 79-year-old as kind, adventurous and very active in her community.

“She had told us that this safari was going to be her last big adventure,” said  her friend  John Longabauth. “Because her birthday is in the summer — I think she was going to be 80, and she felt like she would start slowing down. To be honest, I don’t know if she’d slow down or not. But at least you wouldn’t be traveling as far, probably.”

Mattson split time between living in Minnesota and Arizona, her family said.

Her friends in Arizona held a memorial for her following her sudden death. 

According to the Safari company, one other guest was hurt and taken to a private medical facility.

The four other tourists on the trip were treated for minor injuries after the violent outburst.

The horrifying incident unfolded at about 9:30 a.m. Saturday during a game drive through Kafue National Park, Wilderness Zambia CEO Keith Vincent said in a statement. 

Kafue National Park’s management sent a helicopter to evacuate the victims. 

“This is a tragic event and we extend our deepest condolences to the family of the guest who died. We are also, naturally, supporting those guests and the guide involved in this distressing incident,” Vincent said.

The group of tourists had been staying at the luxurious Lufupa Camp in the Kafue National Park, the largest game reserve in Africa. 

The tour group is making arrangements for Mattson’s body to be returned to the US. 

Police and other authorities are investigating the incident. 

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A Tourist From New Mexico Is Killed by an Elephant in Zambia

The incident came months after another tourist was killed in Zambia when an elephant charged her group. One wildlife expert said the attacks were most likely “freak accidents.”

By Sara Ruberg and Emily Schmall

A tourist from New Mexico was killed in Zambia when an elephant charged her, according to the police commissioner who investigated the incident. She is the second tourist to be fatally attacked by an elephant in the southern African country this year.

The woman who was killed, Juliana G. Letourneau, 64, of Albuquerque, had just visited Victoria Falls, a 350-foot waterfall that straddles the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, and was heading back to her hotel on Wednesday when the group that she was traveling with encountered a herd of elephants on the road.

She and others stepped out of their vehicle to observe the animals, said Auxensio Daka, the police commissioner for the southern province of Zambia, in a telephone interview on Saturday.

“They stopped to watch the elephants, and unfortunately one of them charged towards them as they were standing there watching,” Mr. Daka said.

Mr. Daka said that Ms. Letourneau was taken to a clinic in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park near Livingstone, Zambia, where she was declared dead on arrival. Her injuries included deep wounds on the right shoulder blade and forehead, a fractured left ankle and a slightly depressed chest, according to a police statement.

No other injuries were reported from the encounter with the elephant.

Ms. Letourneau’s brother said on Saturday that he had no details about the incident, and declined to be interviewed. Other relatives could not be reached.

This past March, a 79-year-old American woman was on safari at Kafue National Park, in a central region of western Zambia, when an elephant charged the tour group’s vehicle, according to media reports .

However, human deaths are rare in encounters with elephants, according to experts.

“This is really a freak accident,” Nikhil Advani, a senior director at the World Wildlife Fund, a nonprofit that works on environmental protection and conservation efforts, said of the two incidents happening so close together. “It’s probably just some sort of coming together of unfortunate circumstances that led to this.”

The U.S. State Department said in a statement on Friday that millions of Americans travel to areas where there is wildlife every year, and that it is uncommon for elephants and other wild animals to attack visitors in Zambia.

Ms. Letourneau’s death was first reported by the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, a government-controlled news outlet, which said that human and wildlife encounters in Livingstone, the city where the incident occurred, were rising amid the country’s worst drought in four decades .

The climate conditions are worsening food insecurity in Zambia, which has one of the highest rates of malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa, and pushing wildlife into human habitats in search of food and water, according to the report.

Tourism to wildlife protected areas, which cover about a third of Zambia, and to the numerous lakes and rivers and lush valleys contributes an important share of the national economy.

Joyce Poole, a co-founder and co-director of ElephantVoices, a nonprofit that researches elephant behavior, said that keeping distance from elephants is the best way for tourists to stay safe. She added that there can sometimes be a “culture of aggression” stemming from a region’s history with elephants, as in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, which experienced decades of war and poaching in the 20th century.

“Elephants responded in a certain way toward vehicles,” Dr. Poole said of her research findings from Gorongosa. “This behavior was then observed by younger elephants, imitated by younger elephants and sort of passed down through families.” There have been multiple poaching crises in Zambia, she noted.

Dr. Poole said that finding “a reputable company and drivers who are not just racing around to get the best shot” would be a good way for visitors to ensure safety.

Visitors to wilderness areas should also be wary and admire the animals from afar, experts say.

“As with all wildlife, like if you keep safe distance from them, they are not looking to disturb you or interact with you,” Dr. Advani said.

Sara Ruberg covers breaking news and is a member of the 2024-25 class of Times Fellows , a program for journalists early in their careers. More about Sara Ruberg

Emily Schmall covers breaking news and feature stories and is based in Chicago. More about Emily Schmall

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US tourist, 80, killed in attack by ‘aggressive’ bull elephant while on safari in Zambia

Safari operator says guide’s route was blocked due to vegetation and he could not move vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough, article bookmarked.

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An 80-year-old American woman was killed during a wildlife safari in Zambia after an “aggressive” bull elephant “unexpectedly” charged at the vehicle, the tour operators said.

The incident happened at around 9.30am local time on 30 March at the Kafue National Park in Zambia and the shocking video of the moment was captured and posted on social media.

The video showed the adult male elephant chasing the car which came to a halt as the animal closed in. The elephant then knocked the vehicle over as the guide screamed, “Hey, hey, hey!”

The woman has been identified as Gail Mattson by her family, according to ABC News . Safari operators, Wilderness Destinations, said the elephant “ unexpectedly charged” at the vehicle that was on an excursion with six guests and a guide.

“An aggressive bull elephant charged the vehicle carrying six guests and a guide who were on a game drive from Lufupa Camp,” the company said in a statement to ABC News.

“Our guides are all extremely well trained and experienced, but sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough,” Wilderness CEO Keith Vincent said.

The group, which was staying at the Lufupa Camp inside the largest game reserve in Africa, had gone out for a photography tour at the time of the attack, the Telegraph reported.

The park dispatched a helicopter to the scene. The woman was airlifted and transferred to a hospital in South Africa after suffering unspecified injuries. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Four other people received treatment for minor injuries.

An investigation has been launched into the incident by local police and Zambia’s Department of National Parks.

The local authorities and the US embassy in Lusaka are collaborating to repatriate the woman’s body to her family. African elephants are among the largest land mammals on Earth.

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American tourist killed by elephant in Zambia was an adventurer, family says

"sadly she lost her life in a tragic accident while on her dream adventure," the tourist's daughter wrote in a facebook post., published april 5, 2024.

Family members described an American tourist who was killed in Africa when a bull elephant charged the truck she was riding in as an adventurer who loved to travel.

They identified her as Gail Mattson, 79, of Minnetonka, Minnesota. She was with other tourists on a game drive in a Zambian national park when the animal charged, flipping over the vehicle and killing her, a safari company said Thursday. The attack also injured five others on March 30 in Kafue National Park, which at 8,600 square miles (22,400 square kilometers) is one of Africa’s largest animal reserves.

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"Sadly she lost her life in a tragic accident while on her dream adventure," her daughter, Rona Wells, said in a Facebook post.

Her son, Blake Vetter, told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis that “this is more than about a little old lady that got killed by an elephant. She lived an extraordinary life” while raising two children by herself.

According to the safari company Wilderness, the “aggressive” bull elephant unexpectedly charged at the truck, which was carrying six guests and a guide on a morning excursion through wild areas.

Vetter told the newspaper his mother loved adventure trips to China and other destinations. She was a mortgage company loan officer before she retired at 55. She split her time between the Minneapolis and Phoenix areas and golfed three to four times a week, he said.

“We were going to skydive when she got back,” Vetter said.

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While many wildlife parks in southern Africa teem with dangerous animals like elephants and lions, it's rare for such a charging attack to occur.

Keith Vincent, CEO of the safari company, said the terrain made it impossible for the vehicle to get away.

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“Our guides are all extremely well trained and experienced, but sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough” he said.

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Elephant kills American tourist in Zambia

A US tourist from New Mexico was killed by an elephant during a safari drive in Zambia on Wednesday.

She was attacked by one of the elephants after her group stopped near the Maramba Cultural Bridge in Livingstone due to traffic caused by a herd, a police official told national broadcaster ZNBC.

Initially, officials said the animal pulled Juliana Gle Tourneau, 64, out of the vehicle and trampled her.

But this account was later disputed by the Livingstone Tourism Association, which said the group were only attacked after leaving their vehicle - which it described as a breach of national park regulations.

The association said an attack like the one initially described by a police official had never been reported "anywhere in Africa or Asia".

This marks the second fatal elephant attack on a US tourist in the southern African country this year.

Gail Mattson, a 79-year-old woman from Minnesota, was killed during a game drive in Zambia's Kafue National Park.

During the March incident, an elephant charged the truck, flipped it over, killed Ms Mattson and injured five others.

Rona Wells, Ms Mattson's daughter, wrote on Facebook that her mother died in a "tragic accident while on her dream adventure".

Video of the attack later went viral and showed an elephant charging towards the vehicle. None of the vehicle passengers are seen in the video, but someone can be heard saying "oh my goodness," and "it's coming fast".

The vehicle stops to presumably attempt to stave off the elephant, but the animal hooks its tusk onto the vehicle and it rolls several times.

Zambian authorities have called on tourists to exercise extreme caution while observing wildlife around the country.

Zambia's neighbours Zimbabwe and Botswana have also raised concern about increasing elephant populations in their respective countries.

Zimbabwe has recorded deadly elephant attacks in recent years.

Update, 14 August 2024: This article originally reported that a police official had told the Zambian national broadcaster ZNBC that Juliana Gle Tourneau was pulled from her vehicle by an elephant and trampled. The Livingstone Tourist Association subsequently issued a statement criticising this version of events as inaccurate and explaining that the death had occurred after tourists had left their vehicle in breach of National Park regulations. The statement also said that an attack like the one initially described by a police official has never been reported "anywhere in Africa or Asia".

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Elephant attacks safari vehicle, killing american tourist; video, share this article.

Footage has surfaced showing the harrowing moments last Saturday as a massive bull elephant chased and flipped a safari vehicle in Zambia, causing the death of a U.S. tourist.

The accompanying footage , shared by Andrew Cash, shows the elephant closing on the vehicle, which had run out of road moments before the attack. As tourists express alarm, a guide repeatedly yells “Hey!” in an attempt to ward off the elephant.

Details are slow to emerge, but Wilderness Destinations issued a statement in the aftermath of the incident in Kafue National Park. It reads, in part:

“Wilderness can confirm that an 80-year-old female American guest was tragically killed by a bull elephant while on a game drive at its Kafue National Park destination in Zambia on Saturday.

“Another female guest was also injured in this incident, when an aggressive bull elephant charged the vehicle carrying six guests and a guide who were on a game drive from Lufupa Camp. The injured guest was taken to a private medical facility in South Africa while the other four guests received treatment for minor injuries.”

Elephant attacks are rare, but the docile-looking animals are unpredictable and should always be treated with respect.

Wilderness Destinations expressed “deepest condolences to the family of the guest who died” and addressed remarks on social media regarding why the vehicle had stopped:

“Our guides are all extremely well trained and experienced, but sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough.”

A helicopter was involved in the rescue of the injured tourists. Several agencies are involved in the investigation.

–Elephant image is generic

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Harrowing video shows elephant charging truck during african safari, killing american tourist.

Shocking video captured the moment a 5-ton bull elephant in Zambia charged at a safari vehicle — flipping it over several times and killing an 80-year-old American woman during an expedition.

The unidentified woman was among six tourists with the group Wilderness Zambia who were out on a photography tour Saturday when they came under attack by the crazed beast, the Telegraph reported.

“At around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning the six guests were on the game drive when the vehicle was unexpectedly charged by the bull elephant,” Wilderness Zambia CEO Keith Vincent said in a statement.

One international client killed by elephant in Kafue National Park from lufupa Lodge during Safari. Two injured and being evacuated to Lusaka. Full details being awaited from the operator through the Senior Warden Kafue Region. Very unfortunate indeed. pic.twitter.com/4ntbyhec1G — Gina (@ginnydmm) April 2, 2024

Distressing footage captured by a passenger shows the elephant barreling toward the vehicle as it cruises along a bush-lined road before suddenly stopping when its path was blocked.

The passenger continues to record as the animal lunges at the vehicle and flips it over.

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The elderly woman later died of her injuries while another woman remains hospitalized.

The other four guests were treated for minor injuries after the violent attack.

“Our guides are all extremely well-trained and experienced, but sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough,” Vincent said.

Kafue National Park’s management sent a helicopter to the scene to evacuate the victims.

 “This is a tragic event and we extend our deepest condolences to the family of the guest who died. We are also, naturally, supporting those guests and the guide involved in this distressing incident,” Vincent added.

The group was reportedly staying at the luxurious Lufupa Camp in the Kafue National Park, the largest game reserve in Africa.

African Parks, which manages the park, also controls 22 other wildlife sanctuaries in Africa.

The tour group was making arrangements to return the woman’s body to the US, the Nigerian Bulletin reported.

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American Tourist, 80, Dead After 'Aggressive' Bull Elephant Charges at Safari Vehicle in Zambia

The incident occurred 10 days after another elephant attacked a separate safari vehicle in South Africa

Abigail Adams is a Human Interest Writer and Reporter for PEOPLE. She has been working in journalism for seven years.

Henrik Karlsson/Getty

• An 80-year-old American tourist died after an elephant attack in Zambia on March 30
• The woman and five other guests were on a game drive through Kafue National Park around 9:30 a.m. local time when the “aggressive” bull elephant charged at their vehicle, according to a statement obtained by PEOPLE
• The woman's body will be returned to the United States with support from local authorities and the U.S. Embassy

An 80-year-old American woman died after an elephant attacked a safari group in Zambia over the weekend.

The woman and five other guests were on a game drive through Kafue National Park around 9:30 a.m. local time on March 30 when the “aggressive” bull elephant charged at their vehicle, according to a media statement from hospitality and conservation company Wilderness obtained by PEOPLE.

The group, which was staying at the Lufupa Camp inside the largest game reserve in Africa, had gone out for a photography tour when the attack occurred, according to The Telegraph .

The woman killed in the incident will be returned to her family in the United States “with the support of local Zambian authorities and the US Embassy in Lusaka,” the company said.

“This is a devastating incident for everyone involved and we are doing our best to support the family and all affected and to respect their wishes for privacy,” a spokesperson tells PEOPLE.

Footage of the incident viewed by PEOPLE, showed the elephant running behind the vehicle before heading toward them. The vehicle then stopped, and the elephant charged. 

One individual can be heard yelling at the animal before it made contact with the vehicle and flipped it.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In Wilderness’ statement, chief executive officer Keith Vincent said the vehicle’s route was “blocked” due to vegetation and the terrain, making it so the “experienced” guide could not move the car out of harm’s way “quickly enough.”

“This is a tragic event,” Vincent aded, “and we offer our deepest condolences to the family of the guest who died.”

The five other guests were injured, including a woman who was transported to a private medical facility in South Africa, according to the company. The remaining four guests were treated for minor injuries.

Vincent said Wilderness is supporting the guests and guide “involved in this distressing incident.”

The deadly incident in Zambia occurred just 10 days after another safari truck had a run-in with an elephant in South Africa.

A group of tourists were on a safari trip through Pilanesberg National Park on March 20 when the seemingly unhappy animal charged toward the vehicle and tossed it several times, according to the Associated Press. Luckily, no one was injured.

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National News | 80-year-old American tourist killed in Zambia after elephant attacks safari vehicle

The incident occurred Saturday at Kafue National Park while six guests and a guide were driving. The elephant hit the vehicle and flipped it over.

“An aggressive bull elephant charged the vehicle carrying six guests and a guide who were on a game drive from Lufupa Camp,” Wilderness, the company operating the safari, said in a statement to ABC News  on Wednesday.

“Our guides are all extremely well trained and experienced, but sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough,” Keith Vincent, Wilderness’ chief executive officer, said in the statement.

The park dispatched a helicopter to the scene. The 80-year-old woman was transferred to a hospital in South Africa with unspecified injuries and was later pronounced dead. Four other were treated for minor injuries.

The deceased woman was not identified.

The incident is being investigated by Zambia’s Department of National Parks & Wildlife and other local and federal agencies.

“Local Zambian authorities and the US Embassy in Lusaka” are working together to bring the woman’s remains back stateside, the company said. “This is a devastating incident for everyone involved and we are doing our best to support the family and all affected.”

A similar elephant attack occurred 10 days earlier on a separate safari in South Africa’s Pilanesberg National Park , but no injuries were reported.

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An 80-year-old American woman was killed when an elephant attacked a safari vehicle out on a game drive in Zambia on Saturday, according to a report. The victim, who has not been named, was with five other tourists on the excursion in the southern African country’s Kafue National Park, the Daily Mail reports. Video purportedly showing the attack shared online shows an elephant charging the truck and flipping it over—people can be heard screaming. Keith Vincent, the chief executive of conservation and hospitality company Wilderness, confirmed the woman’s death to the Mail and said the attack left another female guest seriously injured, while four more had minor injuries. Vincent said the vehicle had been “unexpectedly charged by the bull elephant.” “Our guides are all extremely well trained and experienced but sadly the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked,” he added. “He could not move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough.” Vincent called the incident “extremely tragic” and expressed condolences to the victim’s family.

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Elephants trample tourist to death after he left fiancée in car to take photos in South Africa

Updated on: July 10, 2024 / 7:15 AM EDT / CBS/AP

Elephants trampled to death a Spanish tourist at a South African wildlife reserve after he left his vehicle and approached a herd to take photographs, police and local government authorities said Tuesday, marking at least the third such fatality on the continent in less than four months.

The 43-year-old man was killed on Sunday at Pilanesberg National Park in North West province, about 110 miles from Johannesburg, police said.

North West province's Parks and Tourism Board, which manages Pilanesberg, said an adult female elephant charged at the man.

"He was unfortunately not able to escape or evade the elephant, which was now joined by the whole herd, and was caught and trampled to death," it said.

"The elephants moved away immediately from the scene without any aggression towards the nearby vehicles and eventually disappeared into the bushes."

The elephant herd included young calves. Wildlife experts often warn that elephants are especially protective of their young and can react aggressively to a perceived threat.

Police said the man's fiancée and two other women, all from Johannesburg, were also in the vehicle and unharmed.

Piet Nel, acting chief conservation officer for the North West Parks and Tourism Board, said guests at Pilanesberg are told they are not allowed to leave their vehicles while driving through the park and must sign forms showing they understand the rules.

"In some cases, people are oblivious to the dangers in the parks," Nel said. "We must remember that you are entering a wild area."

Elephant attacks are not uncommon in the region. In 2021 a suspected poacher was killed by elephants in South Africa's world-famous Kruger National Park.

Elephants killed two American tourists this year in separate attacks in the southern African nation of Zambia. In June, Juliana Gle Tourneau , 64, of New Mexico, was killed when an elephant that was part of a herd the tourists were watching attacked their vehicle. In April, Gail Mattson, a 79-year-old Minnesotan, was killed in an elephant attack in an incident that was captured in harrowing cellphone video . 

AFP contributed to this report.

• South Africa

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