On a quiet boat tour down the Chobe River in Namibia, a group of tourists experienced a heart-stopping moment when a large male hippopotamus suddenly charged at their boat. The incident occurred on March 22 as the boat, filled with tourists, encountered a pod of hippos that were bathing in the water.
The boat’s skipper, who has navigated this particular channel for over 13 years, had approached the hippos at what was considered a safe distance. Despite the careful approach and the engine being turned off to avoid disturbing the animals, the situation quickly escalated when one of the hippos, possibly triggered by the presence of a small calf, became aggressive and charged toward the boat.
Jackie Boshoff, a 55-year-old tourist on the boat, recounted the terrifying encounter. She mentioned that the boat was operated quietly and respectfully, as usual, but the calm was shattered when the charging hippo targeted the boat’s outboard motor. The hippo’s massive jaws clamped down on the motor, causing significant damage to the plastic casing around it.
As the skipper attempted to maneuver away from the aggressive animal, he inadvertently steered the boat into shallow waters. The propeller got stuck in the mud, which momentarily left the boat stranded and vulnerable. Boshoff noted that the skipper was focused on monitoring the hippo’s movements and did not see the shallow area ahead.
The footage reviewed later by the tourists showed a small calf following the male hippo as it charged, suggesting that the adult hippo’s aggressive behavior might have been an instinctual response to protect its young.
Despite the potential danger, Boshoff praised the calm demeanor of everyone on board, highlighting that no one panicked during the ordeal. She described the entire experience as both shocking and unbelievable, reflecting on how such incidents are often heard about in stories but are never expected to be experienced firsthand.
