(Exclusive) French Tourist Speaks Out After Elephant Attack at Madikwe Game Reserve

A French tourist who was seriously injured after being attacked by a female elephant at Impodimo Lodge in the Madikwe Game Reserve earlier this month has strongly disputed claims that he provoked the incident.

Lionel Budieu (49), who is recovering in a Johannesburg hospital and expected to return home to France this week, says reports suggesting that he ignored safety warnings and moved too close to the elephants are “false and deeply unfair.”

The Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT) had indicated that the attack occurred when a group of tourists followed a herd of elephants to take photographs despite warnings from their guide. Budieu insists that was not the case.

“We had just come back from a three-hour safari with my wife and our eight-year-old daughter,” Budieu explained. “We were walking back to our bungalow when we suddenly saw a large elephant on the pathway. There was no guide with us at that time. I quietly asked my daughter to come behind me and tried to remain calm as the elephant trumpeted.”

A guide reportedly arrived a few minutes later, and according to Budieu, reassured them that it was safe to proceed. “My wife even suggested that we wait and have a coffee to make sure the elephants would not return, but the guide insisted we could walk,” he said.

As they continued along the pathway with the guide, they again encountered the elephant. “She turned, trumpeted, and charged us. I told my wife and daughter to walk back, which they did. The guide hid herself, leaving me alone with the angry elephant. That’s when I was attacked,” he recalled.

Budieu said he sustained severe injuries and lay on the ground for nearly two hours, struggling to breathe. He also expressed frustration with the emergency response, claiming that medical evacuation was delayed until proof of his insurance was provided.

“They told me a helicopter couldn’t come unless I showed proof of insurance. An hour later, it finally arrived, and it took another hour to fly me to Johannesburg hospital,” he said.

The Frenchman said what has angered him most is the suggestion that he was reckless. “Reading that what happened was my fault, because I was a stupid tourist who wanted pictures, is unacceptable. That is not what happened. I did not ignore any warnings. I want the truth to be known.”