A recent safari trip turned terrifying for a group of tourists in South Africa when a furious hippopotamus began chasing their vehicle, nearly attacking it. The incident, captured on camera, has gone viral, leaving viewers across the world shaken by the close call.
The frightening encounter occurred at the Manyoni Private Game Reserve, formerly known as the Zululand Rhino Reserve, during a tour led by Katherine Gilson, Steve Teichmann, and Richard Teichmann. As they ventured through the reserve, the group initially enjoyed peaceful views of wildlife. However, things quickly took a drastic turn when an agitated hippo, with fiery red eyes, suddenly charged towards their safari jeep.
At first, the hippopotamus appeared calm, moving slowly across the land. But within moments, it turned hostile and began running after the jeep. As the hippo gained speed, the tourists onboard began to panic, screaming as the animal opened its mouth wide, seemingly attempting to bite the vehicle.
In the intense moments that followed, the driver of the safari vehicle accelerated, speeding through the reserve’s winding roads. This action eventually caused the hippo to stop chasing, bringing some much-needed relief to the terrified passengers.
The shocking footage of the incident, uploaded to the YouTube channel ‘Latest Sightings,’ quickly went viral after being posted on December 9. The video has garnered over 45,000 views, with many social media users commenting on the terrifying nature of the encounter.
Viewers expressed their fears, with one user commenting, “Hippos are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa,” while another added, “The hippopotamus has to be one of the scariest animals to have charging you.” Many users also praised the safari driver for keeping calm and managing to escape the situation, with some adding, “Kudos to the guide for getting them out of danger.”
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of wildlife encounters. Hippos, despite their seemingly docile appearance, are known to be highly territorial and aggressive, making them one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. This close call, caught on camera, will undoubtedly serve as a thrilling and cautionary tale for future safari-goers.
