Tourists on a safari in Botswana had a frightening experience when an elephant charged at their canoes, causing them to capsize. The group, consisting of holidaymakers from the UK and US, encountered the enraged animal while gliding through the Okavango Delta. The chaotic incident unfolded when their guides mistakenly brought them too close to a female elephant with her calves, triggering a violent response.
As the guides tried to create distance between the group and the elephants, the male elephant swiftly approached and overturned their canoes with its trunk. The tourists, totaling four individuals, found themselves in peril as they fell into the waters inhabited by crocodiles. The guides fled the scene, leaving the tourists to fend for themselves.
Although the elephant initially left the tourists alone, it returned to target one of the women in the group. Fortunately, she managed to survive by submerging herself in the murky water, evading the elephant’s pursuit. An ex-game ranger who reviewed footage of the incident remarked that the tourists narrowly escaped a tragic fate, especially considering the potential danger posed by the aggressive elephant.
A receptionist affiliated with one of the canoe companies confirmed that the group comprised British and American visitors. Despite the loss of expensive camera equipment and phones, the receptionist expressed gratitude that no one sustained serious injuries, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of encounters with wild animals.
The incident highlights the risks associated with wildlife encounters during safaris and serves as a cautionary tale for future tourists exploring the Okavango Delta.