A group of tourists kept their cool when their vehicle was surrounded by a herd of elephants - with one getting up close and personal.<br /><br />Kim Mcleod was on a game drive at Thula Thula Exclusive Private Game Reserve, South Africa when the vehicle was surrounded by 28 elephants.<br /><br />The group of tourists remained calm while the inquisitive elephant checked out a woman’s camera and phone with its trunk.<br /><br />The footage, filmed on November, 28, shows one of the elephants reach out to one of Kim’s photography students and sniff the camera in her lap.<br /><br />After passing on the camera, the gentle giant then stuck its huge nose in the student’s phone as she filmed the remarkable close encounter.<br /><br />Kim said: “I have had many close encounters with these elephants as I have been working here since 2015.<br /><br />"It is always a breathtaking experience for me and as mentioned, very peaceful.<br /><br />“For those moments that they are close, the rest of the world does not exist and it is the most amazing feeling in the world - always leaving you feeling energised and excited.<br /><br />“I am the in-house photographer at the reserve and I give photography courses. <br /><br />"In total we spent nearly an hour with the elephants.<br /><br />“There were 28 in this herd and we watched them all from a distance coming towards us until they passed us.<br /><br />“One of them decided to give us an inspection. It was all very peaceful and harmonious, we know all the elephants by name and we are aware of their behaviour.<br /><br />“The guides will always keep us at a safe distance but very often the elephants approach us and are curious.”<br /><br />ENDS
