Tourist on safari crushed to death by herd of wild elephants on nighttime walk

A tourist has been killed after walking into a herd of elephants after wandering at night (Image: Getty)

South Africa’s largest safari park was the scene of tragedy after a tourist was trampled to death by charging elephants after leaving her accommodation for an evening walk. The victim, aged 68, was unable to sleep in her £135-a-night self-catering cottage and opted for a nighttime stroll as her husband remained sleeping. CCTV recording Sirheni Bushveld Camp reveals the married victim strolling out of the main gate and walking into the darkness

Unbeknownst to the tourist, however, the unnamed victim walked straight into a herd of elephants. These elephants were said to have recently had calves which ensued panic among these large beasts who then charged at the woman which sadly resulted in her being trampled to death.

The event took place in the Kruger National Park on Saturday night, May 10 at roughly 23:00 (Image: Getty)

The event took place in the Kruger National Park on Saturday night, May 10 at roughly 23:00 and it is still unknown what circumstances her crushed body was found in the road.

Eye witnesses reported seeing “little left” of the tragic tourist to identify her from.

“SANParks who operate the bush camp have been attending to the unfortunate incident of a visitor who lost her life after encountering elephants,” said Mr JP Louw.

“In compliance with the law, the matter has been handed over to the police who must be approached for updates, and we will not be making any further comment on it.

“That is both out of respect for the family and also in appreciation of the law” he said after the tragic incident at the safari camp two hours from the Punda Maria Gate.

Tourists are strongly urged not to walk around at night and if they must they must bring a torch (Image: Getty)

A spokesman for the Kruger National Park said the tourist was killed on Saturday night after leaving the chalet she was sharing with her husband.

Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the woman’s death was reported at the Saselamani Police Station with officers investigating the situation further and refused to comment further on the nationality of the victim or when she arrived at the camp.

He explained: “The information is that at around 11pm on May 10 a female tourist aged 68 who was a visitor at a well-known local lodge was attacked and killed by elephants.

"The circumstances surrounding the incident are still a subject for investigation and we will not be revealing the identity until we have contacted the victim’s next of kin”

The Sirheni Bushveld Camp is made up of 15 self-catering cottages which run from solar power and is also on the burial site of a famous elephant who died there in 1959.

The elephant reportedly died from anthrax and Sirheni, meaning “cemetery” in the local Tsongo language.

There has been an increase of deaths similar to this incident when last year an American tourist was killed in Zambia with another in January of this year when tourist Shaik Ahmed, 59, was trampled to death in the Kruger by an elephant that charged.

An American tourist was also mauled to death by a lion on a South African safari a few years back and was identified as a 29-year-old Emmy-winning film editor.

The Sirheni Bushveld Camp is roughly 360 miles north of Johannesburg and sits at the top of the Kruger National Park on the banks of the Mphongolo River.