Time to head back to the lodge for a G&T, driver: Elephants tussle just yards from terrified tourists on safari

By Daily Mail Reporter

Published: 10:59 EST, 2 May 2012 | Updated: 14:13 EST, 2 May 2012

Kicking plumes of dust into the air these bull elephants fought in the ultimate heavyweight title fight - just yards from terrified tourists.

The explosive images were captured by ecologist Charles Vanpraet, 70, as he worked at the Amboseli National Park, Kenya.

The tusked warriors all belonged to a group of young bachelor African elephants and had been making their way through a caravan of parked tourist safari vehicles.

Too close for comfort? African bull elephants fight as safari tourists watch from their 4x4 in Kenya's Amboseli National Park

Too close for comfort? African bull elephants fight as safari tourists watch from their 4x4 in Kenya's Amboseli National Park

At close quarters: Ecologist Charles Vanpraet said the rampant males had been near a group of females just moments before the epic fight - putting them on edge

At close quarters: Ecologist Charles Vanpraet said the rampant males had been near a group of females just moments before the epic fight - putting them on edge

Just showing off: The group of young bachelor African elephants had been making their way through a caravan of parked tourist safari vehicles when the tussling began

Just showing off: The group of young bachelor African elephants had been making their way through a caravan of parked tourist safari vehicles when the tussling began

The rampant males had been near a group of females just moments before the epic fight - putting them on edge.

Charles said: 'Most of these fights are over 'girls'. 

'It was a very fierce and loud battle which went on for almost an hour.

Bird's eye view: The tourists had parked up to watch, not realising it would spill over towards the caravan of cars

Bird's eye view: The tourists had parked up to watch, not realising it would spill over towards the caravan of cars

Fierce: Belgian ecologist Charles Vanpraet said it was 'a very fierce and loud battle which went on for almost an hour'

Fierce: Belgian ecologist Charles Vanpraet said it was 'a very fierce and loud battle which went on for almost an hour'

'It had started on the other side of the road and the tourists parked up to watch, without realising it would spill over towards the caravan of cars.

'I don't think any damage was done to any of the vehicles but it does happen.

'Afterwords everything just calmed down and they all walked off side-by-side as if nothing had happened. There was no love lost.

'The bachelors travel together but really they want to be in a herd with females, and they will compete violently to win the admiration of females after showing they are the strongest.

'But they need each other while they are not in a proper herd, so they make up easily.'

All's well that ends well: Apparently, afterwards they calmed down and they all walked off side-by-side 'as if nothing had happened'

All's well that ends well: Apparently, afterwards they calmed down and they all walked off side-by-side 'as if nothing had happened'

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