Watch: Tourists flee as elephant topples canoe in Okavango Delta
A wildlife outing turned terrifying when an elephant charged and capsized a canoe carrying visitors, leaving them shaken.
Tourists celebrating World Tourism Day in the Okavango Delta in Botswana on Saturday had a harrowing experience when an elephant charged their canoe, overturning it in shallow waters.
Video footage of the incident shows panicked screams as the animal lunged, while some visitors kept filming and taking photos despite the chaos. The canoe capsized, sending its occupants into the water, but no serious injuries were reported, reports Namibia Daily News.
Watch: Tourists flee as elephant topples canoe in Okavango Delta. Video: Namibia Daily News
Fortunately, crocodiles were not in the area at the time, averting what could have been a far more dangerous outcome, the newspaper reported.
Watch: Woman lands in the water as elephant topples canoe. Video: Source unknown/WhatsApp
According to Namibia Daily News, the tourists described it as a frightening but unforgettable moment that will stay with them for life.
Watch: Elephants retreat after toppling canoe in Okavango Delta. Video: Source unknown/WhatsApp
Elephants in the Okavango Delta
Northern Botswana is world-renowned for its vast elephant population, with thousands of the majestic animals moving along ancient migratory routes to find water sources, such as the Okavango Delta.
According to Siyabonga Africa, Botswana is home to roughly one-sixth of the planet’s elephants. In areas like the Chobe, herds gather in some of the highest densities recorded anywhere in the world, especially during the dry season.
Within the Okavango, elephants are most often seen along the seasonal fringes and in the Moremi Game Reserve, though smaller bachelor herds remain resident year-round in the swampy areas. These bachelor groups typically join larger, female-led herds only when mating opportunities arise.
As Africa Safari Magazine notes, elephants in the Okavango don’t merely exist – they dominate the landscape. “The deeper you explore these wetlands, the more their ancient power reveals itself,” the magazine says.
Recognised as a Unesco World Heritage Site, the Okavango Delta supports one of Africa’s largest elephant populations.
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Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
