Hippopotamus runs into tourist boat and causes scare in Botswana river
A video recording captured the moment a hippopotamus moved towards a tourist boat, occupied by passengers, on a river in the Botswana region, in southern Africa, on August 9, 2026.
The images were recorded by businesswoman Oznur Bell, who was on a walk with a friend and her children. According to the businesswoman’s report, the professional driving the boat had reduced speed after passing close to the animal, in order to avoid any disturbance.
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However, the strategy was not enough. Visibly uncomfortable with the presence of the vessel, the mammal raised its head out of the water and increased its speed, advancing towards the boat.
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Those responsible for driving the vessel reacted quickly, accelerating and managing to move the boat away from the animal before it could reach the occupants. “It was terrifying,” Oznur described the experience.
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Despite the great scare, all tourists on board remained unharmed.
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Meet the hippopotamus: a deadly mammal despite its calm appearance
The hippopotamus is recognized as the second largest land mammal on the planet, reaching a weight of up to four tons. Despite its considerable size, the animal is capable of reaching speeds of approximately 32 km/h, which represents a significant danger even over short distances.
Despite its generally calm appearance and being herbivorous, this animal is considered the most lethal mammal in the world, being responsible for the deaths of around 500 people annually on the African continent.
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A peculiar characteristic of the species makes it difficult to predict its location to avoid risky situations, such as the one seen in the video: the hippopotamus can hold its breath underwater for up to five minutes. This ability prevents you from accurately determining your position or the possibility of surfacing close to a vessel.
