{"id":1291,"date":"2026-02-09T05:08:36","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T05:08:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=1291"},"modified":"2026-02-09T05:08:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T05:08:36","slug":"hippo-attacks-how-to-avoid-one-of-africas-most-dangerous-animals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=1291","title":{"rendered":"Hippo attacks: How to avoid one of Africa\u2019s most dangerous animals"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n CNN<\/span>
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\n Paul Templer was living his best life.\n <\/p>\n

\n He was 28 and conducting tours in his native Zimbabwe, with a focus on photographic safaris.\n <\/p>\n

\n He had been away for a few years, including a stint in the British army. But he had returned to Africa\u2019s bush country \u201cand fell back in love with it. The wildlife, the flora, the fauna, the great outdoors, the space \u2013 just everything about it. I was at home.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Templer said Zimbabwe\u2019s guide certification program was rigorous, and there was a lot of pride among the guides who passed. He reveled in showing tourists the area\u2019s majestic wildlife \u2013 including the water-loving, very territorial hippos.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cIt was idyllic,\u201d he told CNN Travel. \u201cLife was really, really good \u2013 until one day I had a really bad day at the office.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

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\n \"The<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n March 9, 1996. A Saturday. Templer learned a good friend who was to lead a canoe safari down the Zambezi River had malaria. He agreed to take his pal\u2019s place. \u201cI loved that stretch of the river. It was an area I know like the back of my hand.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n The expedition consisted of six safari clients (four Air France crewmembers and a couple from Germany), three apprentice guides plus Templer. They had three canoes \u2013 clients in the first two seats and a guide in the back. Then one apprentice guide was in a one-person safety kayak.\n <\/p>\n

\n And down the famed Zambezi they went. \u201cThings were going the way they were supposed to go. Everyone was having a pretty good time.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

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\n \"Zambezi<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n Eventually, they came across a pod of about a dozen hippos. That\u2019s not unexpected on the Zambezi, Africa\u2019s fourth-longest river. They weren\u2019t alarmed at first as they were at a safe distance. But \u201cwe were getting closer, and I was trying to take evasive action. \u2026 The idea was let\u2019s just paddle safely around the hippos.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Templer\u2019s canoe led the way, with the other two canoes and kayak to follow. He pulled into a little channel waiting on the others. But the third canoe had fallen back from the group and was off the planned course. Templer\u2019s not sure how that happened.\n <\/p>\n