An elephant stood on its hind legs to reach over the heads of tourists and rip a branch from a tree overhead in Zimbabwe.

Louis Malzer was on holiday in Mana Pools in August when he and his group were visited by one of the largest living land animals.

The elephant stood up and rested its front feet on an anthill five metres away from the group.

Malzer and his companions had to move to avoid falling debris.

Reflecting on the encounter, Malzer said: "The memory is one that will stay with all of us forever."

“Our concern was that the anthill would collapse under the elephant's weight and would come crashing down onto us."