“The Terminator” finds his match in South Africa

Turns out wild elephants aren’t dazzled by celebrities. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the star of movie franchises like Conan, The Terminator and The Expendables found this the hard way when he was on safari in South Africa recently. The jeep the former governor of California was in was charged at by an elephant, forcing the driver to make a speedy retreat.

The jokes just write themselves

Footage of the tough movie star backing away from danger (when he normally runs towards it in movies) naturally has the Internet joke machine working overtime.

I thought that Arnold Schwarzenegger AKA terminator was gonna terminate the elephant but he forgot that he was in Africa!!! He ain't buying

— ★TheRealShitTalker★⇦ (@Shitty_Taker) June 1, 2016

It doesn't matter if you're #TheTerminator or #ConantheBarbarian… when an elephant charges, you turn into #TheRunningMan! @Schwarzenegger

— Spling 🎬 (@MovieCriticSA) June 1, 2016

The ringing sound in your ears right now is that of cash registers opening and closing. Ka-ching!

Good for the tourism brand

The officials at South Africa’s Depart of Tourism must be doing backflips and cartwheels after all this “earned media” fell in their laps. The tourism market is a competitive one but nothing sets you apart from the herd like everyone knowing you gave a hard-boiled action hero the experience of a lifetime. You can’t put a price on that kind of publicity. The ringing sound in your ears right now is that of cash registers opening and closing. Ka-ching!

a real encounter cab be breathless indeed. South Africa is the place where you can have these real life changing moments!

— Shane Hay (@_ShaneHay_) June 1, 2016

Arnold @Schwarzenegger is in South Africa… but NOT to topple a corrupt government or assassinate anyone's mother. pic.twitter.com/NNfQFUU7ze

— Spling 🎬 (@MovieCriticSA) June 1, 2016

Arnold Schwarzenegger got chased by an elephant in Africa and may have wet himself! https://t.co/jH8Aftjscp pic.twitter.com/PROX7TtNkj

— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) June 1, 2016

wow!! @Schwarzenegger what an experience!! #mahlatinimoment @SANParksKNP #Africa #safari #TravelTuesday https://t.co/SGbvpE4prV

— Mahlatini Travel (@mahlatini) June 1, 2016

All in good fun

The action movie star himself seems to have taken the experience in stride. He even poked fun at himself and his entourage for perhaps wetting their pants in the face of danger. Schwarzenegger has also used the attention around the story of his encounter with the jumbo to highlight the importance of ending poaching and preserving the magnificent creatures for future generations.

I couldn't have written this encounter better if it was for a movie. Some of us had to change our pants. Take a photo, not a shot.

— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) May 31, 2016

Meanwhile, his fans on the continent have been poking fun at him in their own way.

BREAKING NEWS: Arnold Schwarzenegger killed the biggest elephant in South Africa, with bare hands. pic.twitter.com/Tl401QLyvF

— Ndu (@GobaMlisela) June 1, 2016

Hello Sir @Schwarzenegger, TIA (This Is Africa)

— Skipp Macgoo (@SkipperSA) June 1, 2016