It’s not a situation you want to find yourself in … you're filming a herd of elephants when suddenly a very angry matriarch bursts through the trees and embeds two pointy tusks into the side of your vehicle, ripping through metal doors like a crude can-opener. But that’s exactly what happens in this hair-raising clip filmed during a live safari in the Greater Kruger National Park last week. Safari guide and WildEarth host, Marc Weiner was behind the wheel and as he steered the vehicle towards a herd of elephants was met with a ‘mock charge’ from a rather grumpy matriarch. As the crew began to move off the elephant made another move, and this time it was for real. For the safety of the crew, the feed was cut before returing to a rather shaky Marc and his cameraman, both relieved to have made it out unscathed.

This incident comes only a few weeks after a bull elephant in Thailand went on a car-crushing rampage. Although this attack did not appear to be provoked, it serves as a strong reminder to keep a safe distance!