Shit Happens…
Sad obviously…but you are around Dangerous Game etc. which we all understand.
Not the companies fault and certainly not the travel agency which is simply who they think they can grab money from

Saeed,

Hippos do what hippos do, but they aren't known for carrying insurance or having bank accounts. So, some parasite lawyers (yes, I agree with you this time) sue a US company where they can get jurisdiction in a liberal venue. I'm sure they signed disclaimers of liability and some states are better than others about enforcing them. Don't know about NJ.

Just imagine getting hold of the lawyers suing, and dropping them in the middle of a hippo pod in theMalagarasi River!

I would love to film it.

No way to get out, as the river is surrounded by reeds 20 feet high!

A lot of people don't understand that hippos are dangerous. Back in 2012, I finished a hunt in Simanjiro and went to stay with my PH and his girlfriend at a place in the middle of Arusha National Park. Rifles needed to be locked up because it was in the park, so mine was. Early one morning, the guy that was in charge of maintaining the house asked if I wanted to go see a hippo that lived in a pond not far from the house. So I grabbed my camera and off we went. When we got there the hippo was not in the pond, so this guy says let's take a short cut back to the house through this 12' high grass, at which point I realized he was a town African. I said no, we are backing out of here the same way we came in. He wasn't happy about the extra steps, but I explained to him why.

I have been to Africa a few times.

Been charged by elephants, hippo, buffalo and lion.

Never really felt I was in REAL danger1

But, driving?

I never feel safe, despite the fact it is normally safe here.

Hippo caught the wrong one.

George

Sad, but living comes with risk.

quote:

Originally posted by ismith:
Sad, but living comes with risk.

I worked at an electronics place in the UK in the 70’s.

We had a worker with terrible bad luck, and keeps having accidents.

It was Friday the 13th, so he was given that day off!

Just before lunch, there was an announcement on the public system.

That he had fallen in the bathroom and broken his arm!

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Saeed,

Hippos do what hippos do, but they aren't known for carrying insurance or having bank accounts. So, some parasite lawyers (yes, I agree with you this time) sue a US company where they can get jurisdiction in a liberal venue. I'm sure they signed disclaimers of liability and some states are better than others about enforcing them. Don't know about NJ.

A women here in Arizona once sued the Arizona Game and Fish department. Her claim was that they weren't feeding the Coyotes properly and they ate her cat.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Ahrenberg:

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Saeed,

Hippos do what hippos do, but they aren't known for carrying insurance or having bank accounts. So, some parasite lawyers (yes, I agree with you this time) sue a US company where they can get jurisdiction in a liberal venue. I'm sure they signed disclaimers of liability and some states are better than others about enforcing them. Don't know about NJ.

A women here in Arizona once sued the Arizona Game and Fish department. Her claim was that they weren't feeding the Coyotes properly and they ate her cat.

Either her or the game department lost.

But.

BUT.

The bloody HUMAN VERMIN got paid.

By both sides!

Hungry Hippo was a very popular kids game. They knew the risks.

Seems like a clear case of negligence on the part of the tour operator.

The tour guide had a rifle, but left the group alone in close proximity to a wild hippo?

The cavalier and risky way African tour guides behave can be astonishing at times. I’m actually surprised this one even had a rifle.

Providing an armed guide is sensible, but the guide is utterly useless if he leaves the tour group alone in the bush near a dangerous animal.

I have never trusted them. As tourists, we must always use our common sense in these situations.

You should all watch THE SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO film on YouTube.

They have a good hippo segment right at the beginning!

quote:

As tourists, we must always use our common sense in these situations.

The sensible ones mostly apply logic and common sense but its the ones whose minds have been brainwashed by Hollywood's portrayal of animals being cuddly and a part of us that seem to think differently.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson: As tourists, we must always use our common sense in these situations.

Common sense is not a high ranking trait of many tourists. Despite all of the warnings on signs on the ground and in the literature that is given to tourists when they enter Yellowstone NP,look at the number of tourists that are injured and even killed every year from them getting too close to the wild animals. Like telling their kids to stand next to a buffalo for a picture.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Seems like a clear case of negligence on the part of the tour operator.

The tour guide had a rifle, but left the group alone in close proximity to a wild hippo?

The cavalier and risky way African tour guides behave can be astonishing at times. I’m actually surprised this one even had a rifle.

Providing an armed guide is sensible, but the guide is utterly useless if he leaves the tour group alone in the bush near a dangerous animal.

I have never trusted them. As tourists, we must always use our common sense in these situations.

Indeed and the fault of the guides who are often inadequately armed. The photographic tourists are unaware of the dangers.

She pays a lot of money to book the photo safari.
Travels to the far side of the Earth.
Goes to middle of nowhere to see one of the most dangerous animals in the world.
Doesn't stay with guide.
Gets killed.
Got to be someone else’s fault.

She got the trip that she remembered for the rest of her life.

Don't blame the guide.

I have been on several photo safaris in various countries.

I have passed by lions lying down within 10 feet.

I have had elephants stick their trunks inside our safari car.

We were within yards of lions mating.

Been close to rhinos.

Some of these encounters we could have avoided.

Some we could not.

It is part of being in the wild with animals.

You don't want to take the risk, do not go.

Not much difference to going hunting.

Something MIGHT happen that will injure you or kill you.

Again, it is your choice of what activities you wish to participate in.

I just do not see how personal responsibility is totally ignored in America.

Everything is someone's else's fault.

So sui them!

Hanging around close to dangerous game in Africa without a fully loaded rifle in your hands (and a round IN THE CHAMBER!) is something I will never understand. Folks that go on these such photographic tours unarmed into the wilds of Africa are not the sharpest knives in the drawer in my opinion. Called dangerous game for a reason.

Some folks are against carrying a rifle with a round in the chamber WHILE HUNTING! I learned gun safety years ago, and follow the rule of never pointing a gun muzzle at anything you don’t want to kill, loaded or not. If a PH tells me I cannot hunt with a loaded chamber, I simply do not hunt with him. Crazy things can happen while hunting animals, and one may find himself needing a loaded rifle within 1 or 2 seconds. Way too late to rack a round into the chamber, then aim and fire. And while hunting in DG country, I never sling my rifle over my shoulder. It is always in my hands, loaded, with one in the chamber. YMMV

One safari in Zambia with Andrew, my hunting partner went out in the afternoon with him, while I stayed in camp. I had taught my partner my rules for rifle carry while in DG country. They had walked for a long time following a herd of Buffalo. After a while, my buddy got tired and slung his rifle over his shoulder. Naturally, that is exactly when he & Andrew came around some trees, and there, maybe 20 feet away was about (3) or (4) Lions feeding on one of the Buffalo they had just taken down. One of the Lioness’ charged. He said he had tired and shoulder slung his rifle! It happened so quickly, he said he just stared at the Lioness, empty handed. The Lioness stopped some feet away. He said he turned to look at Andrew, and saw him rifle at shoulder ready to shoot if the Lioness had come much further. My friend said he remembered my words at that very moment of always having a loaded rifle, in hand, when hunting/following DG. He said that was the last day he’ll ever not follow that advice! Thank God for Andrew! A great PH.

Exactly right.

But I suppose it's too much to expect African tour guides to realize that they have to treat tourists like foolish children.

Yet sadly they must, because foolish children is often what they're dealing with. The Walt Disney effect is real.

In a case like this one, had it been my wife and me being walked up to a wild hippo, we would have walked away with the armed tour guide when he left. Or maybe even before that!

It's baffling to me why the guide would leave and basically abandon the tourists to the whims of the hippo.

Why didn't the tourists leave, too?

Did it not occur to these people that there was a reason their guide carried a rifle?

I have seen hippos and other dangerous game turn from placid to pissed off in seconds flat.

My wife and I have had to strongly urge more than one unarmed African tour guide to move us away from close proximity to dangerous animals.

Mostly elephants. For some reason, they like to provoke and tempt elephants the most!

More than once we have been a stalled vehicle away from possible mayhem or death.

It's only common sense that's needed, but it's missing from a lot of these incidents.

I think we are much safer hunting, where at least I have my rifle loaded and ready!

Every year we hear of these tourist deaths.

I'd like to see the statistics but I'd bet more tourists are killed on an annual basis than hunters!

In a farm in South Africa.

We were in golf buggies around lions lying a few feet away.

Signs say DO NOT LEAVE THE BUGGY!

An American woman apparently did a few days earlier.

She sat down to take pictures I think.

A lioness came from behind her, and put her front legs on her shoulders.

The woman got a few scratches, nothing serious.

But, she told them she intends to sue the farm for negligence!!

Nothing new here.

An American mentality!

You are right, of course.

It is said here in the U.S. that for some people over 50 litigation takes the place of sex.

After seeing so many abuses of the system for so long, I now believe in the British rule, which requires the loser to pay all of the prevailing party’s fees and costs.

The way things are now in the U.S., there is far too much gaming of the system, which is tilted far too strongly towards plaintiffs, even in frivolous suits.

Of course, in the present case, I feel awful that the woman was killed by the hippo, and just as awful for her husband, who did not and perhaps could not protect her.

I have seen a report that the armed tour guide did not walk away but fled.

Cowardly and culpable, if true.

The natural world can be a dangerous place.

We must all be careful out there.

I have been on guided drives to see the critters in various parks . Some of these guides are real idiots when it comes to dangerous game. The last time we went to Pilanesburg (spelling ?) the guide just about got us hammered by some angry elephant with her idiotic behavior.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I have been on guided drives to see the critters in various parks . Some of these guides are real idiots when it comes to dangerous game. The last time we went to Pilanesburg (spelling ?) the guide just about got us hammered by some angry elephant with her idiotic behavior.

Serves you right going with a woman “guide”

Mike, if the armed guide cut and run I agree with you, but they aren't suing the African company as I understand it, they probably can't get personal jurisdiction. They are suing a US company that apparently booked the trip, and what did they do wrong?

Hey, you have juries that reward a stupid bimbo who spills coffee on herself at McD with millions!

Do you really expect any common sense answer??

Saeed,

Not really.

Anyone who thinks someone else is responsible for their safety is a fool.

When you take group tours, there is always someone who lags behind.

We have a friend who was on a tour in Europe and was lagging behind the group and they found them selves locked in a cathedral. They missed the tour bus and needed to find a way to rejoin the tour at its next stop. they did not have their passport with them and they needed to fly to the next country to join the tour, it was all on them.

My question, is why did the chap not watch out for his wife. He threw her to the hippo. Not a very shining star.

Isn't a married couple supposed to protect their spouse?

Thats how I remember it.

George

Maybe he didn't want to go through a divorce....

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana338:
When you take group tours, there is always someone who lags behind.

We have a friend who was on a tour in Europe and was lagging behind the group and they found them selves locked in a cathedral. They missed the tour bus and needed to find a way to rejoin the tour at its next stop. they did not have their passport with them and they needed to fly to the next country to join the tour, it was all on them.

My question, is why did the chap not watch out for his wife. He threw her to the hippo. Not a very shining star.

That is exactly why we do not go on group tours.

At one camp, there was a Russian couple.

Never left camp.

The woman lies by the pool all day.

The man is on his computer at the bar all day.

At one place, we got called on the radio about lions mating.

We went there.

Lions were having at it a few yards away.

One of the safari cars had young people in it.

Some were actually ASLEEP!

We usually left the camp before anyone in the morning, and never came back until after dark.

Our guide was fantastic.

And everyone else at camp thought we were weird!

I have just booked a post-hunt tourist trip in some of the most famed "game-viewing" locales in all of Africa.

I am ready as I have always been to tell the "guides" to get the hell out of any circumstances that I feel are unsafe.

And I agree that the women "guides" can be the worst. They seem to enjoy challenging the white man's manhood.

We had one condescend to challenge my judgment that we should not drive to within 5 yards of an obviously agitated juvenile male elephant.

She said, in so many words, "Don't worry. He won't hurt us."

I responded, in so many words, "I killed his father a few days ago on the other side of the river. I think he knows it. We need to get out of here."

We did.

I think its a bit harsh to judge the husband for not protecting his wife. I think he was probably as ignorant as she was.

I've never been on tours, but I have hunted with women game scouts and they range from the absolute worst to one of the best. So I'll keep an open mind on that.

With respect to the worst, she was issued what was at one time a beautiful .458 WM Mauser, but it was worse for the wear. She let me look at it. There was little if any bluing left on it and the stock was dry and in need of oiling. I didn't look down the bore, but I'm sure I'd have been appalled. She was deathly afraid of it. Thankfully, she didn't carry a round in the chamber, which made me feel better since she was behind me. We followed a herd into thick riverine crud and took a couple of hours sorting the herd finding nothing. Buffalo were at close quarters. She was miserable. On the way back to the gari, we bumped a bull elephant and he screamed, threw grass, you know the routine. She got sick at both ends and never left the car again.

I had another woman game scout that was quite good. While she couldn't pitch in with the heavy work, the guys were amazingly respectful better behaved than usual. No ribald jokes, etc. And she had good eyes.