Tourists on a safari in Botswana had a frightening encounter when an elephant charged at their canoes, causing them to capsize suddenly. The group, consisting of holidaymakers from the UK and US, was navigating through the Okavango Delta in a gondola-style when the terrifying incident occurred. The elephant, accompanied by two calves, reacted violently as the guides brought the canoes too close, leading to chaos.
The aggressive bull elephant swiftly approached as the guides tried to create distance from the animals, but it moved too fast and used its trunk to overturn the canoes. The tourists, totaling four individuals, found themselves in the waters infested with crocodiles after being thrown off their canoes. The guides fled the scene, leaving the tourists to fend for themselves. The elephant initially left them alone but returned to attack one of the women in the group, who managed to survive by submerging herself in the water, eluding the elephant’s pursuit.
An eyewitness, who viewed footage of the incident, emphasized the fortunate escape of the tourists, highlighting the potential danger they faced from the enraged elephant. The woman narrowly avoided being injured severely and possibly drowned during the attack. The incident underscored the risks associated with close wildlife encounters and the importance of maintaining a safe distance.
A company representative confirmed that the affected visitors were from the UK and the US, noting the loss of expensive camera equipment and phones but expressing relief that there were no serious injuries. The unpredictable nature of wild animals was emphasized, serving as a reminder of the inherent dangers of wildlife excursions.
