Giant python chases safari tourists off the road in South Africa

A group of tourists on safari in South Africa have met their match while driving through a remote part of the country in their Land Rover.

While wildlife-spotting on a dirt road near Durban, a group of tourists were filmed jumping into their cars and trying to flee when a giant 5m-long python made its way on to the bonnet of the car.

In the video, the ordeal starts when a man spots the reptile sitting underneath a boat which appears to be bogged on the dirt road.

Snakes alive! The South African Python went straight for the car. Photo / Supplied

After attempts to move the snake by grabbing its tail, the python slithers towards the white Land Rover and mounts the bonnet.

The driver in the 4WD tries to reverse away from the giant snake, which falls off the car, but instead of retreating — the python follows the fleeing vehicle.

Close the doors! Photo / Supplied

Despite the size of the snake, the African Rock Python is a non-venomous snake of sub-Saharan Africa. As the country's largest snake, this species is one of the six largest snake species in the world.

Drive! The tourists backed off, but the snake kept coming. Photo / Supplied

The African rock python kills its prey by constriction and often eats animals up to the size of antelope, occasionally even crocodiles. The snake reproduces by egg-laying and, unlike most snakes, the female protects her nest and sometimes even her hatchlings.

While the size of the snake does scare people, it very rarely kills humans.