Sometimes you get an itch you just have to scratch.

And when this elephant's case saw a car full of tourists approaching, he saw the perfect opportunity.

Two terrified occupants of a VW Polo found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time as the giant animal stooped down to rub itself against the vehicle's roof and bonnet.

The incredible scene was captured by field guide and lodge manager Armand Grobler, 21, at Pilanesburg National Park in South Africa.

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He said: "I was doing ethology - the study of animal behaviour - at the time, so I had a basic understanding of what was going on.

"The elephant was presumably on Musth, which is a time that an elephant male has an excess amount of testosterone, turning even the calmest Dumbo into a raging bull.

"Yet even though it was in this condition, it displayed no signs of aggression or frustration and was in a more playful mood."

Elephants frequently use logs, small trees and rocks to relieve an itch or remove parasites - but with the car so close to hand, this was a chance too good to pass up.

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Armand added: "We were unsure of what to do in the situation when the elephant made contact with the car, and when the car was being crushed, we feared for the lives of the driver and passenger but our efforts were very limited as to what we could do.

"The all-round emotion that was within our vehicle, as we watched in horror, was that we were rushed with adrenaline yet terrified and helpless.

"The two passengers in the car, male and female, both in late 20's or early 30's, were not harmed, only badly shaken up. They were both in shock but happy to be alive.

"The car was not so lucky. From what we could see and hear, all the windows were smashed, the roof was badly dented and the entire top part of the car smashed.

"All four tyres had been blown and the chassis broken."

As for the elephant, he soon continued on his way - oblivious to the destruction left behind.