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Can anybody tell me if there has ever been a incident where an elephant has attacked a car in the Kruger. i know that people on walks were attacked by elephants, which is an accident, but what about any cars.

I am so scared of them that I get the jitters just thinking about coming across a bull flapping his ears wildly. My child has never seen them in the wild before, so I don't want to get the scarry jitters when I see them, I would like my child to enjoy them.

Can anybody give me some information on elephant behavior in the Kruger. I would really appreciate it. (I will also be using some rescue remedy during the drives ha-ha! )

Thank you - Mariaan

Please help me with my silly fear.

Hi Mariaan ...

You're not going to like what I'm going to tell you .. but yes .. Elephants have attacked cars in the KNP.

Fortunately I can also add that not 1 tourist have ever been killed in such a case.

Elephants do charge (I've been a luck "victim" to survive that) But only because we "surprised" each other along the Sabie River on a very foggy morning. The other instances the elephant gave himself away in what mood he was and thus I could see what his attitude was from a mile away and make sure I give him enough space.

There are a few rules and logic to follow to avoid such situations.

1. Don't switch your engine off next to an elephant.
2. Give the elephants some space.
3. Look for bulls in musth .. they are the usual culprits who look for trouble. To see this, check the sides of the head. If it looks like there is moisture running down the face then you know to he is in musth. Alternatively .. Look between the legs .. Lots of moisture there on the hind legs and a dripping also indicates musth.
4. Keep your eyes open ... Elephants have a canning ability to "dissappear" into the bush. Coming around corners, areas with thick vegetation next to the road can lead to surprises, so just be aware.
5. Don't feed them especially oranges
6. An elephant shaking his head and flapping his ears and giving a few rumbles is a sure indication that he is not happy with the situation. Back off until he seems to calm down. Then don't try to pass him until there is sufficient space. I've seen many people who were stormed by an elephant trying to pass them when there is not sufficient space between them. Sufficient space for me is when I know I can generally pass him at the same speed I would travel in the park. And then knowing if he wants to charge that I have MORE then enough time to accelerate away from him.
7. To identify if it's a "real" charge. In most cases the ears will move against the body and his/her trunk will be rolled up underneath the head. That's when you know generally that "it's on now" ..
8. Be EXTREMELY vigilant and carefull around breeding herds. There are young ones there and the herd is very very very protective of them. Since they do get large (the herds) Check around and make sure that you have a way to get out. Make sure you know where they elephant all are so that you don't suddenly realise that they have "closed" the road behind you.

These are some general rules .. But before you get too scared (like my mother-in-law who freaks out close to any elephant) Here are some sightings I've seen "unharmed"

On the Duke Mission .. The elephant was within 1 meter from our vehicle after just having had a little battle with another ellie and a tree .. He then moved off to go and take on the hippo's.

I've seen both my big tuskers within a range of 5 meters from them.

I've travelled through sever breeding herds of elephants and watch the babies from a distance of 10 meters.

What I'm saying is that not every elephant you encounter will charge. You sort of "learn" their mood and know when it's safe to approach and when to stay away.

In my view .. If you have a fear of elephants, keep your distance and enjoy the sighting rather then trying to get close to see more and stressing about the elephant.

Mathews,

I believe there has been. However, the Kruger ele's are generally more tolerant of vehicles than in other parks I've been to. As long as you don't invade their space, you'll be fine.

Kruger provides many opportunities to view ele's from a safe distance. I find that if an ele is down a slope, in a river bed etc you are more than safe.

Why don't you just stop on one of the many bridges and look at them below.

P.S. Tape a plastic mouse on your bonnet

lol lol I will put mice all over the car, so if anybody sees a car stuck from front to back and top to bottom full of mice (all shapes and sizes) then know it is me.

Thank you for the information. I will really keep my distance. I will show this to my hubby, cause he will try and get as close as possible while I am eating my nails in the back.

Thanx again for the info!!!!!!!

A number of vehicles have been attacked .
The most memorable attack I recall was a very close shave with death for ranger Douw Steyn . While in the Olifants / Letaba area his official vehicle was impaled by an irate elephant through the drivers door under the drivers seat which he was occupying at the time .

I agree with W@H, never turn off your vehicle whilst close to ellies. I have been mocked charged plenty of times and seriously charged once or twice.

While you in KNP you will see people trying to squeese through an ellie herd or past a big bull, please dont think that if they can do it so can I, rather wait untill they move away from the road.

If you are in the Letaba area, do yourself a favour and visit the Elephant museum as you and the youngster will truly learn alot.

Dont be scared, just be carefull, and dont forget that the same goes for buffalo.

There's been numerous incidents and some quite violent.

I recall Kobie Kruger writing to her husband, Kobus, ranger @ Croc Bridge, to go sort out an elephant on the Bume road, near Croc Bridge as it made short work of tourist cars and had one ended up against a tree.

I also remember a elephant pushing a tourist car into the Kanniedood dam. This story was told in a book called "Veldwagters vertel" if I am not mistaken.

Not too long ago this happened:



and



And also this:



Here is the Afrikaans version of the last story.

I have to admit that this is my greatest fear. If the road is busy and it looks as if there might be a "situation", we pull over and watch from a safe distance. I feel very claustrophobic if I'm in the middle of a traffic jam particularly around an elephant bull who can happily trample 6 cars before he gets started.

I think most of these last stories (although they are the real facts) are just going to make someone, who is already quite scared, completely terrified!!! Don't forget that each one of us that gives our opinion on this thread has already been to KNP and knows what it's like there. Here we are talking to someone who has never been there and might just imagine an irate ellie hiding behind each bush...

@mathews. I have a very healthy respect of elephants and you do need to be careful when they are around.
To enjoy your stay, I think you should do the following:
Stick to the tar roads. These are the roads where you have the most visibility. That means that most of the time you can see the ellies before you get close. Then it's up to you whether you stay and watch them from a good distance. If they are on the road, then stop at a good distance and wait for them to move off. You can go even further with this method and only choose, to start with, the tar roads that have really optimal visibilty. Once you start feeling comfortable then move on to other types of roads.
It becomes a little bit trickier on gravel roads because there is often less visibility. There is more chance on coming across an ellie that you hadn't seen.
What I'm saying is that there are ways of fully enjoying your stay without worrying all the time. Keep to roads where you feel comfortable and then you can try other smaller roads if you want. The thing is choice!
Please be aware that elephants are dangerous at times, but there are ways of keeping your car in a situation where you feel comfortable! Enjoy your stay!

Also keep well clear of other vehicles , especially the larger 4 wheel drive type and open safari vehicles at elephant sightings where you could be boxed in and prevented from retreating .

Shame... now even i am scared at the big guys

Mathews, I hope the mice you put on the car are indigenous?

But scary stories aside, if you see an elephant browsing from the bushes and or trees it means that (s)he's relaxed, and probably will not be any problem.
You can often pass at your ease, not at a high speed, just breezing along.
However as you'll find, young elephants are very playfull! If you're in the situation that they see you crawling towards them and they stop browsing and cross their frontlegs it's a sure sign of "I'm going to play with the tourist". Meaning it will not let you pass, often creating a trafficjam in both directions.

What to do then? Easy, back off to something like 50-70 meters and wait till it looses interest and moves on. You're in no hurry, it's vacation, and you might take a few great pics. Or look to the siode and spot that leopard you never saw, or that bird, or...

If you take into consideration that nearly 1,500,000 visit Kruger every year, it just shows how scarce these incidents are. But it also proofs that you shouldn't think that it could not happen.

Threat displays by elephants include: turning towards you, spreading ears, standing tall, head-nodding, head-jerking, head-shaking and head-tossing, forward trunk-swish, demonstration and real charges.

To better explain the afore-mentioned:

Head-jerking is a single, abrupt upward movement, followed by a slower return.
Head-tossing is a pronounced version of the jerk, the head is lowered and then lifted sharply so that the tusks describe and arc.
In head-shaking, the head is first twisted to one side, then quickly rotated from side to side, causing the ears to slap against the face with the sound of a snapping towel.
The forward trunk-swish, typically accompanied by trumpeting or and air blast, is a threat usually addressed to a smaller antagonist. The trunk is rolled up and then abruptly unfurled ans swished toward the antagonist. Using the same gesture, elephants sometimes pick up or rip up and throw bushes, grass or other objects towards the antagonist.
Standing tall is a dominant display, resembling the alert posture, but the head is raised higher and the elephant peers over it's tusks, ears cocked and trunk hanging at an acute angle.
Spreading of ears and holding them tensely forward or flapping them is a clear indication of defensive behaviour.

I have also heard and read somewhere, that when an elephant means business, it nearly always comes immediately and without warning, except for a momentary rocking motion of its body, sometimes even without a sound. The tail stiffens, the tusks are held high and the trunk is drawn in against the chest. The ears are usually, but not always, spread to their full extend giving the head a most awesome frontage.

Elephants can also be timid to a point of absurdity. A large bird landing nearby, the presence of a squirrel or a mongoose blocking the path is often enough to alarm them, and sometimes the whole herd will bustle away from a purely imaginary danger. (So I think the toy mouses attached to the car will do the trick )

But, you are on vacation, do not worry about what may and what may not happen with the ellies. Just be careful and give them and yourself some personal space and enjoy the ride!

Be careful also of the irresponsible actions of some viewers which can irritate elephants (and serious wildlife lovers) .