Tourist Boat Escapes Charging Hippo in Botswana
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A wildlife sightseeing trip in Botswana turned into a near-miss when a massive solitary male hippo charged after a tourist boat in shallow water. Tourist Oznur Bell, who filmed the encounter, said the captain had initially kept his distance to avoid disturbing the animal but then noticed aggressive behaviour and told passengers to hold on before speeding away. Video showed the hippo surging through the water with striking speed and power, at one point appearing to close the gap before abandoning the chase. No injuries were reported, and all passengers escaped safely after the captain accelerated in time.
Key Points
- The incident took place on a waterway in Botswana, where a tourist boat entered the territory of a large solitary male hippo during a sightseeing trip
- Oznur Bell said the captain first slowed down and observed from a distance to avoid provoking the strongly territorial animal.
- After detecting signs of aggression, the captain warned passengers to hold on and immediately increased speed to prevent the hippo catching the boat.
- Adult male hippos can weigh between 1,600 and 4,500 kilograms, with the upper end roughly comparable to a mid-sized SUV
- University of Pretoria researchers estimate hippos kill at least 500 people a year in Africa, more than twice the number killed by lions.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong travellers joining safari or river tours overseas, the episode is a reminder that herbivores can be among the most dangerous wild animals when territory is involved. It also underlines why tourists should follow guides' instructions immediately, especially on water where distance can close very quickly during an animal charge.