The United States team bus was delayed on its way to a training session by a hungry elephant snacking on a tree.

After four minutes, the elephant moved to the side of the road and the team continued on to Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

It was the second elephant interruption of the day for the US men. Earlier in the afternoon, a bus carrying 10 players on their way to an open-air market at the entrance to the team hotel got stuck behind an elephant, spokesman Michael Kammarman said.

The congestion occurred outside the Bakubung Bush Lodge in Rustenberg. Players timed the trip to get back to the hotel in time for the start of the World Cup opener between South Africa and Mexico, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Signs outside the hotel warn: "Elephants come close to our fence keep a distance of 30 metres and please be quiet" and "Baboons are dangerous - please keep clear of them and do not feed them."

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