A curious elephant made quite the entrance as it charged toward a startled group of tourists at Kynsa Elephant Park in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa, only to halt just before them.
John Lucas, 47, was visiting the park with his wife when they captured this heart-pounding moment on video. As the elephant approached, they found themselves frozen in fear while their guide urged them to remain still.
John explained that the elephant, drawn by the group’s laughter, was intrigued but not used to such sounds. Despite their fear, the trio stood their ground.
As the elephant drew closer, it began to slow down, realizing that the tourists weren’t fleeing.
“We had stayed behind after the tourist bus left, so it was just us and the guide,” John shared. “We were talking and laughing, which caught the elephant’s attention. It was something it wasn’t used to.”
In the moment of tension, John held his camera close, unsure if it was even on but too nervous to check.
Their guide calmly spoke to the approaching elephant, reminding the group to stay still, a challenge that proved difficult for John’s wife, who instinctively hid behind their guide.
After the encounter, the elephant lingered momentarily, observing the group, before dashing off to join a nearby herd of zebras.
The experience left John and his wife with a thrilling story to tell, highlighting the unpredictable beauty of wildlife encounters.
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