A couple on a holiday safari have been attacked and robbed by armed bandits.

Nick and Maggi Bradgate from Mardens Hill, Crowborough, East Sussex, were on a two-week trip to Africa with Surrey-based tour company, Kuoni, when they came face to face with gun-toting robbers.

They were camping in remote bushland near Etosha National Park in Namibia when the gang struck.

The couple and the nine other holidaymakers they travelling with were dragged from their tents by the attackers at 3am.

Mr Bradgate, 54, who runs a gardening company with his wife, Maggi, 53, said: "Our tents were slashed and we were dragged out and pushed face down in the sand.

"One of them said 'Don't look or we'll kill you'. I looked up at one point and got hit over the head. They fired one shot over our heads and waved knives under our noses."

The robbers then raided the tents taking possessions including cameras, mobile phones, credit cards, passports and wallets.

Mr Bradgate said: "My wife was threatened with a knife until she handed over her wedding ring.

"After raiding the tents they piled our belongings into the back of our tour bus and drove away with it.

"We were with three members of staff from the tour company but they were attacked too and forced to give petrol money for the vehicle."

The safari group were on a private game reserve called Okonjima near Otjiwarongo, between the capital of Windhoek and Etosha National Park around an hour away from the nearest town.

Fortunately the robbers missed one of the holidaymakers mobile phone so the stranded tourists were able to contact the police.

Mr Bradgate said: "The attack lasted around 30 minutes. Once they left we called the police and staff from the Okonjima lodge, three miles away, came to pick us up."

The Bradgate's praised lodge and safari staff for looking after the party and said they were also shocked by the February 2 drama.

They carried on with the rest of the two-week trip and returned to Sussex on February 15 but said they felt stressed and frightened by the incident for the rest of the holiday.

Mr Bradgate said: "We don't want to put people off going to Namibia, it's a beautiful country. We would only suggest that you thoroughly research the places you will be staying and check what security measures are in place. If there had been security guards close to our camp it may not have happened."

Kuoni tour company, based in Dorking Surrey, said: "This is the first such incident involving Kuoni customers which is currently being fully investigated. Kuoni have featured Namibia for several years during which time no such incidents have been reported. We were very sorry to learn of the ordeal that our clients endured while on their safari and we are in contact with them.

"The Kuoni duty officer was made aware of the incident the next day and called our local agent to get full details". Kuoni have offered the victims a counselling service.