Elephant Picks up and Throws Truck full of Tourists

In an attempt to save his guests, this safari guide put his vehicle between them and an angry elephant, which lifted the truck to try and move it.

Bongani Yende had chosen to take his guests to the Rathlogo Bird Hide in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. The guests had gotten out of the vehicle and were walking around the parking area, which his allowed. That is when Bongani noticed a massive bull elephant making its way to the hide's parking area.

Understanding the behavior and visual telltale signs of elephants, Bongani saw that this bull was in musth. Elephant musth is a time when male elephants can get really aggressive and show increased interest in mating. Understanding that it could lead to a potentially dangerous situation, he managed to get four of his guests onto the vehicle while the other 15 were still in the hide and the parking area.

With very little time to make a decision, Bongani decided that to save his guests, he would need to get the elephant away from them. He revved the engine and drove directly at the elephant, hoping to scare it away from his guests. But this bull elephant was not interested in leaving and stood its ground.

The stand-off lasted for a few minutes. The guide would drive towards the elephant, and it would hold its ground. Then, after a while, instead of holding its ground, it would come closer and closer. Eventually getting to the entrance of the hide parking area.

The guide at this point began shouting and screaming, and the elephant tried anything to get it to move off. The elephant, on the other hand, took it as a challenge and took the vehicle head-on. He managed to lodge his tusks into the bulbar of the truck and, with complete ease, began lifting the truck.

The guests in the hide had a clear view of the truck as their guide, and four others were in the truck. The front tires of the trucks lifted off the ground, and the elephant kept lifting them higher. He lifted it to the height of his head, so much so that the guests in the truck could see the blue sky above!

Then he just dropped the truck, sending the guide bouncing around his seat. The four guests in the truck also went for a ride. But the guide remained composed and continued trying to get the elephant away. So, after he dropped the truck, the elephant had enough of the guide and the truck, so it eventually decided to move off.

To license the footage:

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[aaronrich]

The guy holding the cell phone can definitely handle some pressure. He not only kept filming, but kept the elephant perfectly in frame during and after the "bounce" lol

[CLVSBKWN]

Driver: “enough..enough”
Elephant: “I say when enough is enough”

[jev]

That elephant literally used 5% of its strength 💀

[dianedewitt]

What a beautiful animal!! Deserves more respect!!

[Mandatory]

Elephant only warned them 20 times. Every ear flap, head nod and leg movement.

[innocentbystander]

Elephant demanded an apology from that driver, and he got it.

[jewelhaines]

@4:05 that lady eating a bag of chips while hiding from a Elephant attack!! 🤣

[FCESWS]

That elephant was eating those leaves like Popeye eating spinach before a fight.

[longsleevethong]

My dude went from screaming at that elephant like it ruined his DoorDash to begging the elephant for forgiveness.

[shaqashaqahimself]

The chauffeur said "sorry"😂😂😂. It was a good reminder.

[charlesbarkson]

thats one of the calmest elephant "attacks" ive ever seen

[k.a.c]

The sheer force of nature isn't to be underestimated. This is crazy and awesome. The ease that it lifts that truck with is insane. Nature's fed up I think.

[annsmith]

the recklessness of the driver can not be overstated. I have travelled through the Serengeti three times and this driver was taunting the elephant -- and then it's the elephants fault ? No! Just back up and let the elephant pass. it is their territory not ours.

[kayde]

2:43 😂 " Enough enough " that elephant understood and backed off.

[markrushton]

Had something similar when I was on a safari in South Africa. Our guide stopped the vehicle and spoke almost whispered to the elephant. He told it we meant know harm but there was no shouting, slamming doors, revving the engine just gentle words. That elephant eventually just turned away and left us. A stunning experience.

[cryptofxalgorithms]

such a gentle, kind and considerate creature!

[captainmavis]

The guy shouting hey hey is the same driver in all safari journeys...😂 animals are tired of him

[uafc]

I love how well versed in english elephants are. First, the dude shouts "come on" angrily challenging him and the Elephant moves forward and pushes the jeep a little to scare him. Then he says "No, enough" almost begging for mercy and the Elephant goes away as if it had taught that angry human a lesson in manners lol

[matthysswanepoel]

😂 the driver got humbled very quickly 😂 at least a couple of tourists made right with God

[jeannietimberger]

I love the ladies that were quietly praying ❤️ that's one hell of a story to tell the family. 😂