Video shows hippo charging boat full of tourists in Botswana

A group of tourists in Botswana narrowly escaped a charging hippo while on a boat trip, capturing the encounter on video. The guides managed to outrun the animal, which they described as a rare and terrifying experience.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the unpredictable nature of wildlife tourism and the importance of safety protocols in natural habitats.
Video captured by a tourist aboard a boat in northern Botswana showed the heart-pounding moment the vessel had to outrun a charging hippo. Oznur Bell, who took the video, was on the boat Sunday with her three children and a close friend as they traveled between camps during their stay in Botswana, she told NBC News. “It was one of the most terrifying moments I’ve ever experienced,” Oznur said. “Once he started charging after us, the adrenaline was unbelievable.” One of the journey’s guides, who was operating the vessel, spotted the hippo and slowed the boat in an attempt not to disturb it, Oznur said. The vessel had just come upon an elephant, and she had her phone out when the hippo appeared, she said. “I happened to have my phone in my hand because I was filming it,” Oznur said of the elephant.
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