Arnold Schwarzenegger's scary encounter with an elephant

Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote that he couldn't have written the encounter any better if it had been a movie scene.

Arnold Schwarzenegger had a close call with an elephant while on safari in South Africa.

The movie star and former California governor posted a video on Instagram on Tuesday that shows an elephant coming up to the windshield of the Jeep that Schwarzenegger was riding in.

View this post on Instagram

I couldn't have written this safari encounter better if it was a movie. I'm absolutely in awe of these beautiful, strong animals, even though some of us had to change our pants after this. We need to stop killing them - take a photo, not a shot. Would you rather be able to experience these creatures or a hunk of ivory? I thought so.

A post shared by Arnold Schwarzenegger (@schwarzenegger) on May 31, 2016 at 5:27am PDT

The elephant initially walks away, then returns and chases the vehicle as it drives away.

Schwarzenegger wrote that he couldn't have written the encounter any better if it had been a movie scene.

He wrote: "I'm absolutely in awe of these beautiful, strong animals, even though some of us had to change our pants after this."

Schwarzenegger publicist Daniel Ketchell confirmed Tuesday that the video is "real and unstaged."

- AAP