AN ELEPHANT has overturned a vehicle carrying two tourists, injuring one of them, in South Africa's Kruger National Park.

The tourists are of "Chinese origin", according to a statement from Kruger National Park.

An elephant in the park attacked the vehicle on a road at 6.30am local time yesterday, and a medical team in a helicopter rushed to help the injured male driver, said the statement.

He was taken to a hospital for further treatment.

It is unclear why the elephant became aggressive, said the park spokesman William Mabasa. He is appealing to the public to be alert in Kruger park and try not to get too close if they see an elephant approaching on the road.

The vast Kruger park lies in South Africa's northeast, next to Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

