Yes. On March 18, 2024, a bull elephant lifted a 22-seat safari truck several times in Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa. No injuries were reported, but the vehicle was damaged and passengers were shaken. The widely shared video shows a real incident; the reason the elephant confronted the truck is less certain.
What happened in the elephant-and-truck video?
The encounter took place in the Mankwe region of Pilanesberg National Park on March 18, 2024. Mankwe Game Trackers, a Tourvest Adventures company, confirmed that its 22-seat safari truck was involved. ABC News reported that the elephant lifted the vehicle several times. TimesLIVE described the bull wedging its tusks beneath the front of the open-roof truck, lifting it, and dropping it back onto the ground.
There are two widely circulated perspectives: bystander Hendry Blom filmed from outside, while a passenger recorded from inside the truck. In the interior clip, passengers can be heard praying.
Were the tourists hurt?
No injuries were reported. The truck was damaged and had difficulty moving afterward. ABC News also reported that one family was offered counselling because the passengers were extremely rattled by the incident.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Elephant Stuffed Animal】This elephant plush toy features a beautifully crafted design. Made from ultra-soft plush, it feels incredibly gentle and safe for kids, while adding extra fun. It’s the perfect cuddle buddy, bringing warmth, comfort, and smiles to both children and adults.
- 【Realistic Elephant Sounds】This plush elephant comes with an upgraded sound module featuring the “powooo” function. It includes over a dozen authentic elephant calls recorded in the wild. Just give it a gentle squeeze, and it lets out lifelike elephant sounds—like having a real elephant right by your side.
- 【Soft & Durable】This cute elephant toy is made with premium materials and filled with high-quality PP cotton, stitched tightly with durable seams. Perfect for cuddling, it also makes a charming home décor piece or desk companion. Its soft, adorable body will have you squeezing it again and again!
- 【Emotional Boost】This baby elephant stuffed animal provides kids with comforting security that supports emotional growth. It’s the perfect plush toy for playtime, naptime, soothing, storytime, bedtime, or travel—and makes a great décor addition to any boy’s or girl’s bedroom.
- 【Perfect Gift】The ideal gift for family, coworkers, kids, couples, or any elephant lover. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, birthdays, baby showers, baptisms, Easter baskets, Christmas, and more!
Why did the elephant confront the safari vehicle?
Mankwe Game Trackers said the bull showed signs of musth, a periodic condition in male elephants associated with increased reproductive hormones and potentially aggressive behavior. That is the operator’s explanation of the animal’s condition, not a definitive account of what triggered this particular encounter.
An operator representative told ABC that some tourists had come too close to the elephant to take pictures. That claim has not been independently established as the cause. The Field Guides Association of South Africa cautioned that the footage provides little context about what happened before the confrontation, so the video alone cannot settle why the bull acted as it did.
Rank #2
- ELEPHANT FIRE TRUCK TOY: When it’s time for an exciting rescue, clip Marshall into the driver’s seat and race to the rescue, using the elephant tusks and oversized wheels to clear away any obstacles
- LAUNCH 3 PROJECTILES: Open the rear compartment to access the 3 water projectiles. Load them into the projectile feeder and pull the trunk back into position, then press the button to launch
- EXCLUSIVE MARSHALL TOY FIGURE: Marshall stands over 2-inches tall and looks just like he does in the PAW Patrol series, dressed in his red jungle explorer uniform and helmet
- COLLECT THEM ALL: For more fun, collect all the PAW Patrol toys like the Air Rescue kids toys, PAW Patrol movie toys, dragon toys, stuffed animals, toy figures and playsets (each sold separately)
- LEARNING AND EDUCATION TOYS: PAW plush toys and toy cars are toys for boys and girls that enjoy building toys Great gifts for kids 3 and up, as an alternative to dolls, dinosaur toys or a train set
What does the incident say about elephant safety on safari?
It shows why visitors should follow their guide’s instructions and keep a safe distance from wildlife; it does not, by itself, establish a broader incident rate or the comparative safety of safari operators. Mankwe Game Trackers said its guides are trained for such situations under Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) and CATHSSETA professional authority standards. That is the operator’s description of its training.
Zoo Miami communications director Ron Magill told ABC News that people should not turn and run from a charging bull elephant; he advised making noise and standing their ground. This is an expert’s quoted guidance, not a substitute for instructions from a qualified guide who can assess the specific situation. Tourists should not approach an elephant to take photographs or attempt to respond to a charge on their own.
Rank #3
- 【 Soft Plush Cover】: Bouncy Elephant is made of incredibly soft upgraded plush material, much thicker than ordinary covers. Washable to protect children's skin. You can ride, hug and snuggle, definitely a cute companion in need of warm hugs! The liner is made of extremely heavy-duty, eco-friendly material. Durable and explosion proof. Max weight 100 lbs(45 Kg). A cute gift for children and Elephant lovers.
- 【Learning & Entertainment】: Our bounce animal can not only exercise the strength of legs and hands, but also exercise balance and coordination, and promote the development of the brain. More importantly, teach your child how to laugh and have fun in the process.
- 【Easy to Inflate】: Inflatable hopper is easy to inflate, just remove the stopper from the belly of the animal hopper, inflate it to the appropriate size with an air pump, and finally plug the stopper back. Children under 3 years old should be under direct supervision of an adult.
- 【Anytime & Anywhere】: Bouncing horse is great for classroom, indoor, outdoor activities, summer vacation.
- 【Perfect Gift】: Every child wants to receive boucny toys for creative play solo or with friends around the house. Bouncy Elephant is packed in beautiful gift box. Now give them a gift!
Mankwe Game Trackers said it was glad everyone was safe and thanked its staff for handling the incident professionally. The footage documents a frightening close encounter, but it does not show the full lead-up or prove that any single action caused it.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Walk And Wiggling: This is a vivacious elephant, it features with walking and make sound. This interactive elephant will walking forward and trumpeting, cute enough to attract the attention of children. It is a good elephant toy to make your kid happy after opening switch.
- A Interesting Toy For Kids: Still buy some boring stuffed animals or dolls for your little one? Why not try this animated walking elephant? Adorable elephish can make sound and keep walking forward. Perfect gift for a little one that loves animals.
- Great Replacement: Give your child the responsible role of taking care of a pet! Almost every little boy and little girl dreams of owning a pet at some point in their lives. However, to those who loves animals but are allergic to the fur or kids who are too little to hug a four-leg friend with paws and fangs, this toy may be a safe alternative to make girls’ and boys’ dreams come true without the hassle or the mess.
- About Walking Elephant: This adorable elephant measures about 8 inches long, the portable size and light weight can let kids take it everywhere and play with. Walking elephant could attract children's attention easily, it gives you more space and time to do your own thing. Inspire your children and surprise friends or guests with an ideal interactive gift for any occasion. Let your kids’ mind run freely, connect their imagination and enjoy happy game time.
- Considerations: Adults should open the battery box with a screwdriver. Put in 2 AA batteries (NOT INCLUDED), and turn the switch to “ON”, it will play. Please remove the batteries if for long time storage and keep it away from fire and water for safety reasons. Do not wash it.
Rank #4
- [Unique Design]: HotMax has designed a variety of vaulting horses according to the ranking of animals that children like in the market, so don't worry about not having your favorite bouncy horse.
- [Improve balance]: Children can improve hand-brain coordination and stress ability in the process of playing. Help children exercise and improve reaction speed.
- [Safe and efficient]: We are equipped with a manual pump, you can make magic together with yours, and let the bouncy horse change from a flat state to a 3D three-dimensional vaulting horse. Do this little magic together to increase your interaction with your child. Our animal hoppers has passed the children's CPC test report, so don't worry about harming children.
- [Not limited by places]: Our bouncy horse are designed with a low center of gravity and are easy to clean. You can use them indoors, gardens, classrooms, and lawns anywhere.
- [Get out of the room]: Your child's growth is inseparable from contact with nature, so bring a soft play equipment and play outside together. You can contact us if you have any after-sales questions, and we will solve your problems as soon as possible.Age group 3 years and up to 12 years. Age under 3 should use under direct supervision of an adult.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
