Tourists from Britain faced fear as an elephant, shielding its young, chaotically charged at a boat in a crocodile-populated river, potentially causing it to nearly sink.
During a river safari tour in Botswana's Okavango Delta, a group of British tourists had a close encounter with a charging elephant. The elephant, which weighed over five tons and stood 11ft tall, aggressively charged the safari boat, causing it to momentarily lift into the air and leaving the tourists fearing for their lives.
The incident, captured on footage, shows the elephant slamming its tusks into the boat three times before turning away. The engine of the boat reportedly cut out just as the elephant came within reach, causing the tourists to fall off their benches and drop their cameras. One tourist can be heard shouting "Oh no!" in the footage, while another exclaims "Holy s**t." A joking comment from the tour guide, saying "Yes, we can hear you," can also be heard during the incident.
The elephant's charge was likely in response to protecting its baby, as the incident involved a close encounter between the tourists and the huge mammal. Despite the dramatic nature of the encounter, no one was injured in the incident.
This incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of wildlife encounters on river safaris. It contrasts with a tragic elephant attack in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, where two tourists lost their lives during a walking safari near the Luangwa River when charged by an elephant with a calf despite attempts to deter it.
FC Conradie, the CEO of Gondwana Private Game Reserve, was not involved in this incident, but his love for elephants and nature often led him to photograph them. Unfortunately, he passed away in a tragic incident earlier this year, when he was trampled to death by an African elephant while on a walk in a game reserve in South Africa.
The footage of the Botswana river safari elephant charge has been shared widely on social media, with the Facebook post on Wildfriends Africa clocking up 30,000 views since it was taken in June. It serves as a stark reminder of the need for caution and respect when observing wild animals in their natural habitats, especially in regions known for large elephant populations on water-based tours like the Okavango Delta.
It is worth noting that elephants, which are some of the world's largest mammals, kill an estimated 500 people every year in Africa. The river where the incident occurred is known to be infested with crocodiles and hippos, adding to the potential dangers of wildlife encounters in the region.
The identity of the company that took the tourists out on the river safari in Botswana has not been disclosed.
- A thrilling adventure-travel experience in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, was interrupted by an unexpected event, as a group of travelers encountered an angry elephant, making their lifestyle momentarily fraught with danger.
- Despite the perilous encounter with the charging elephant, a reminder of the importance of respect and caution during wildlife encounters in regions known for large elephant populations, like the Okavango Delta, was reinforced.
