The pair were walking with an experienced Maasai guide when a group of elephants they spotted downwind were spooked, according to the Kenya Tourist Board (KTB) and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

The elephants "showed no signs of aggressive behaviour but were apparently startled by something, causing them suddenly to rush towards the walking party who were caught up their path," said KTB chairman Jake Grieves-Cook.

"The wife and the guide were unharmed but the husband was attacked by one of the elephants and was killed," he said in a statement.

"This was truly a tragic accident and on behalf of the tourism fraternity in Kenya we wish to express our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to the wife and family of the visitor who died in this unprovoked attack," he said.

KWS spokeswoman Connie Maina called the incident a tragedy and noted Smith and his wife had been married for only a week.

"They were on their honeymoon," she told AFP. "The man's wife saw everything, she was shaken but not injured."

Maina said the incident occurred in the reserve's Ochooirua Conservancy about 300 meters (yards) outside Richard's Camp, a luxury safari destination in the northwest part of the Maasai Mara, where the couple were staying.

Related Links
Out Of Africa