The Italian ambassador to South Africa, Alessandro Cevese, was killed in a freak accident in Tom Burke, Limpopo police said on Saturday.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Ronel Otto said Cevese was apparently part of a hunting party that was travelling in an open vehicle early on Saturday morning.
The vehicle swerved to avoid an eland that crossed its path and overturned.
Cevese died on the scene.
Police have opened a culpable homicide inquest.
Married with three children, 57-year old Cevese was a qualified lawyer with extensive diplomatic experience.
He had been the ambassador of Italy to South Africa, Lesotho, Mauritius and Madagascar since July 2006. — Sapa