A British tourist and her friend from New Zealand were killed by a charging elephant during a ‘sunrise safari walk’ in Zambia.

Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said the victims, a 68-year-old and a 67-year-old, were attacked by a female elephant that was with a calf at South Luangwa National Park at around 6am Thursday. 

The two women who had been based at the Big Lagoon Bush Camp had been taking the early morning walk to another part of the camp when the incident took place.

‘Two female tourists while taking a safari walk to a crossing point at Luangwa river spotted an elephant with a calf at a distance and diverted about 50m away, but within few minutes after diverting a tea bearer who is usually behind saw the elephant charging at them,’ Mweemba said.

The tea bearer reportedly shouted ‘elephants’ and as the two women turned around they saw it storming towards them at high speed.

The New Zealander, who had a leg problem, was tragically caught first. 

Safari guides who were with the group fired shots at the elephant in a desperate attempt to stop it from charging at the women.

But despite the shots, the elephant also caught the British woman.   

Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said the victims, a 68-year-old and a 67-year-old, were attacked by a female elephant that was with a calf at South Luangwa National Park (pictured)

Safari guides who were with the group fired shots at the elephant in a desperate attempt to stop it from charging at the women (file photo)

The elephant was hit and wounded by the gunshots, but the guides were unable to prevent the attack and both women died at the scene, police said.

The pair of tourists had stayed for four days in the camp and they were heading to another camp named Takwela Camp before the attack.

A local posted a tribute to the two women. ‘Near Big Lagoon Bush Camp, at sunrise, a walk meant to explore turned sorrowful when a nursing elephant, accompanied by her calf, charged out of instinct,’ they said.

‘Despite the presence of trained guides, the moment unfolded too swiftly.’

The pair ‘had spent four peaceful days immersed in nature’s embrace. Their journey was meant to continue – but instead, we remember them for their courage, their curiosity, and their love for life’s wild places’, they added.

The bodies of the two women have been taken to Mambwe District Hospital for mortuary services, awaiting further details.

According to the South Luangwa National Park website, the region’s ‘concentration of animals is some of the most dense in all of Africa’.

‘You don’t have to travel to the most remote areas of the park to see some amazing animal sights,’ the site said. 

‘In fact, don’t be surprised if a handful of elephants wander in and out of your camp, as they have a habit of making themselves welcome.’

Female elephants are very protective of their calves and can respond aggressively to what they perceive as threats. 

The pair of tourists had stayed for four days in the camp and they were heading to another camp named Takwela Camp before the attack (file photo)

Last year, two American tourists were killed in separate encounters with elephants in different parts of Zambia. 

In both cases, the tourists were also elderly women and were on a safari vehicle when they were attacked.

Juliana Gle Tourneau, 64, from New Mexico, was killed by an elephant during a safari drive in Zambia on June 19 last year. 

The attack came after her group stopped near the Maramba Cultural Bridge in Livingstone due to traffic caused by a herd, and left the vehicle in breach of National Park regulations. 

In a separate incident, Gail Mattson, 79, from Minnesota, was killed during a game drive in Zambia’s Kafue National Park. 

The animal charged towards the truck she was in and flipped it over, killing Mattson and injuring five others.