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Hippo Charges Botswana Tourist Boat, Guide Accelerates to Escape

8/8/2026

31 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

A male hippo in Botswana charged a tourist boat, prompting the guide to speed up.
The guide first slowed the boat, then instructed passengers to accelerate to avoid the animal.
The hippo pursued the boat for several seconds, lunging from the water as passengers watched in fear.
Hippos can reach 16.5 feet, weigh up to 10,000 pounds, and kill about 500 people in Africa each year.

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Story summary

A male hippo in Botswana charged a tourist boat, prompting the guide to speed up.
The guide first slowed the boat, then instructed passengers to accelerate to avoid the animal.
The hippo pursued the boat for several seconds, lunging from the water as passengers watched in fear.
Hippos can reach 16.5 feet, weigh up to 10,000 pounds, and kill about 500 people in Africa each year.