Footage has emerged of two young but very powerful-looking elephant bulls investigating and "mock-charging" a group of backpackers.

The video, filmed at Kruger National Park, South Africa in June last year, shows the two elephants intimidatingly approaching the group.

They're soon joined by an older male elephant which adds to the tension.

Luckily, the backpackers stood their ground, which they were told to do by their guides, and no one was hurt.

The filmer later wrote online: "Our guide, at this point, handled the situation with extreme professionalism and instructed us to stand our ground at all costs as if you present yourself as being intimidated by their presence they would for sure follow through on their charges to exert their dominance.

"As if orchestrated by a mob, a third, slightly larger and older bull approached and we found ourselves faced with three mighty elephant bulls."

"It was a surreal moment as although my heart was pounding in my chest whilst filming this amazing experience filled with fear, excitement and adrenaline, I did not for one moment feel like my, or my fellow guests' lives were in any imminent danger due to the professional way that our guides handled the situation," he continued.

"During the full 12 minutes the three bulls continuously 'mock' charged us trying to intimidate us but the guides were stern in their instructions to stay put and maintain a calm demeanour and not show any signs of aggression as that might of angered the bulls more.

"Once the bulls got bored of our presence they slowly moved off towards the river bank and continued feeding and we headed off to camp to have a well deserved night cap with the guides."

This video occurred whilst being a backpack trail (Mphogol trail) in the northern part of Kruger National Park South Africa. Our group was lead by Wayne Tebrake (lowveldtrails co.). We were about to arrive back at camp at approximately 17: 00 after a short walk along the river when we came across two young elephant bulls peacefully grazing on the lush grass along the river bank.

At first the two young bulls seemed content at our presence as we were about 90m away from them and posed no immediate danger to their grazing.

The situation quickly changed when one of the bulls decided to investigate our presence and as most young testosterone teen ages of today do, they decided to gang up on us.

Our guide at this point handled the situation with extreme professionalism and instructed us to stand our ground at all costs as if you present yourself as being intimidated by their presence they would for sure follow through on their charges to exert their dominance.

As if orchestrated by a mob, a third, slightly larger and older bull approached and we found ourselves faced with three mighty elephant bulls!!

It was a surreal moment as although my heart was pounding in my chest whilst filming this amazing experience filled with fear, excitement and adrenaline, I did not for one moment feel like my, or my fellow guests' lives were in any imminent danger due to the professional way that our guides handled the situation.

During the full 12 minutes the three bulls continuously "mocked" charged us trying to intimidate us but the guides were stern in their instructions to stay put and maintain a calm demeanour and not show any signs of aggression as that might of angered the bulls more.

Once the bulls got bored of our presence they slowly moved off towards the river bank and continued feeding and we headed off to camp to have a well deserved night cap with the guides.

This was by far the most exhilarating moment in my life and one which I will cherish forever.

Thank you once again to Wayne Tebrake and Janet Kleyn for keeping us all safe and allowing us to experience the true African bush at its rawest.

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