Two Couples Escape Elephant Attack Overturning Canoes Botswana

Two couples from the UK and the US narrowly escaped death when a bull elephant aggressively charged and capsized their safari canoes in the crocodile-infested Okavango Delta in Botswana. The elephant, provoked by the group's proximity to a female elephant and her calves, overturned both canoes, throwing the tourists into the water while their guides fled to safety. The bull elephant then returned to attack one of the women, ramming her with its trunk and knocking her underwater, but ultimately abandoned its attack after about ten seconds, likely due to losing sight of her in the murky water. The woman survived by reaching the riverbank with assistance from her husband. A former South African game ranger criticized the guides for misjudging the safe distance from the elephant, stating the tourists were fortunate to escape without serious injury or death. This incident highlights the dangers of close wildlife encounters in the Delta and the risks posed by both aggressive animals and the crocodile-infested waters.