News

An elephant bull overturned a tourist vehicle in the Kruger National Park (KNP) between Phalaborwa Entrance Gate and Letaba Rest Camp at about 10:45 this morning (Friday April 7, 2006).

The vehicle had four passengers, the 40-year old driver and three children who all sustained minor injuries and were transported to Phalaborwa after the incident.

According to an eyewitness, the occupants of the vehicle were looking at the elephant from a distance but, unfortunately, when the elephant advanced towards the vehicle, the driver could not drive off immediately as the engine was switched off.

The elephant attacked the vehicle on the driver’s side, between the driver’s door and the bonnet, and overturned it. Other tourists hooted to scare the elephant away.

“A few incidences of elephant aggression have been reported recently in the Park and we would like to advise tourists to be extra careful when they are at an elephant sighting in order to avoid incidents such as this unfortunate occurrence,” said Dr Bandile Mkhize, the Executive Director of the KNP.

The family of the victims has been contacted and informed about the incident. KNP Rangers tried to track down the elephant with a helicopter but unfortunately it could not be located.

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Enquiries:
William Mabasa, HOD: Public Relations and Communications, Kruger National Park. Contact: Tel: 013 735 4363, cell: 082 807 3919 or email: [email protected]