American tourist killed by charging elephant on safari tour at Kafue National Park in Zambia

  • 04/04/2024

An 80-year-old American tourist has been killed by a bull elephant when it charged at the safari group she was part of.  

Another female tour guest was also injured in the incident which took place in the Kafue National Park in Zambia.  

The group of six guests and a guide had been on a safari from Lufupa Camp when their vehicle was "unexpectedly charged" by the animal, according to a report from Sky News UK.  

Video of the incident has emerged online, which shows the elephant charging at the vehicle, before tipping it over.  

A voice, believed to be the tour guide, can be heard yelling "hey, hey, hey!".  

The second guest who suffered injuries was rushed to a private medical facility, while others received treatment for minor injuries.  

Keith Vincent, Wilderness Chief Executive Officer, told Sky News UK it was a "tragic event". 

"We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the guest who died. We are also supporting those guests and the guide involved in this distressing incident." 

Vincent added the vehicle had to stop due to the "terrain and vegetation was such that the guide's route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm's way".