Animals have their own rules for life — and sometimes, humans get caught in the middle of their stories. In a safari park in South Africa, a massive elephant gave tourists the fright of their lives when it decided to use their car as a scratching post.
It happened in the Pilanesberg National Park, where a young field guide and lodge manager named Armand Grobler witnessed the wild encounter. The unsuspecting couple inside the VW Polo could only watch in terror as the huge bull elephant leaned against their car, rubbing its head and sides to ease an itch.
Grobler, who was nearby, captured the unbelievable moment on camera. “The elephant wasn’t angry — just itchy,” he said. “It was in a playful mood, though it could have gone very wrong.”
A Close Call With a Giant
Elephants are known to scratch against trees, logs, or rocks to get rid of parasites or soothe their skin. But this one picked something a little more modern — a parked Volkswagen. The car became an oversized back-scratcher, and the animal didn’t hold back.
As the elephant leaned harder, the vehicle began to crumple under its weight. “We feared for the lives of the people inside,” Grobler said. “All we could do was watch.”
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Inside the car were two tourists, a man and a woman in their late 20s or early 30s. They sat frozen while the several-ton bull scratched away, unaware of the destruction it was causing. When it was finally done, the elephant calmly walked off — itch-free and completely unconcerned. The car, however, was wrecked beyond repair.
“All the windows were smashed, the roof was caved in, and the tires burst,” Grobler said. “It was terrifying and surreal all at once.”
Understanding Elephant Behavior
Grobler later explained that the elephant was likely in musth, a period when male elephants experience a surge in testosterone. During this phase, bulls can become unpredictable — but this one, he noted, showed no aggression at all. “It was more like a giant scratching an itch than a wild attack,” he said.
Wildlife experts point out that such behavior, while alarming, is part of normal elephant activity. “They use anything they can find to rub against,” one ranger commented. “When you weigh several tons, even a small itch can feel unbearable.”
The scene may look comical now, but it’s a sharp reminder of just how powerful wild animals can be — and how small we really are beside them.
A Wild Mix of Fear and Respect
The two tourists escaped unharmed but were left shaken. “They were in shock but grateful to be alive,” Grobler said. Witnesses described feeling both fear and awe — a blend of adrenaline and helplessness as nature took control.
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Encounters like this show why safari parks emphasize respect for wildlife distance rules. Even when animals appear calm, their strength can turn a lighthearted moment into danger within seconds. Yet these experiences also remind visitors of the raw beauty of nature — unpredictable, wild, and magnificent.
Lessons From the Wild
For Grobler, it was more than just a funny story. It was a glimpse into animal life — how they move through the world without malice or awareness of human property. “The elephant wasn’t angry or vengeful,” he reflected. “It just wanted to feel better. That’s what life in the wild is — simple needs, big impact.”
As for the elephant, it walked away satisfied, leaving behind a broken car and a viral story. The tourists left with their nerves rattled but a memory they’d never forget.
Sometimes, animals remind us that we’re guests in their world — and that life out there runs on instinct, not insurance.
