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Croc eats a Dr in NE Botswana
#4546
03/23/2006 01:59 PM
03/23/2006 01:59 PM
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,341 South East US, Carolinas coast
sailn
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,341
South East US, Carolinas coast
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CNN had a story about a Dr working in Botswana who was in a lead dug out canoe, and a croc jumped up and ate him. On Limpopo river in NE Botswana. Any idea how far that is from the Safari camps in Chobe and does the same risk exist for the Morroco canoes thay show in the bulletins? they pole the morrocos so a croc could probably jump in (if there are any crocs there)
Last edited by edwardh1; 03/23/2006 02:01 PM.
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Re: Croc eats a Dr in NE Botswana
[Re: sailn]
#4548
03/23/2006 02:36 PM
03/23/2006 02:36 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,666 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,666
Central Florida!
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Edward--I saw that story. What a horrible story, as the guy was there to try to help fight AIDS in Botswana. I believe that the event took place close to Gabarone, which is a bit of a ways from Chobe. When we went for the mekoro ride, there didn't appear to be any crocs in that immediate area. Lots of hippo in the water, which actually are pretty dangerous animals, but the guides know where the hippos are most of the time, as they don't really move about much, and they are generally in groups. Personally, I didn't like my mekoro ride anyway, as I was hyperventilating about the little tippy canoe tipping over and dumping my expensive camera in the drink. Everyone describes mekoro rides as being so peaceful, etc., but I pretty much hated it. I am not scared of water in general, but had never been in a canoe before and did not like the 'vibe' of being in that tippy little canoe.
Oh, and not that it would be much of a consolation, but I think I remember that the guides were poling at the front of the canoe, usually?? If so, the croc would get the guide first. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Blush.gif" alt="" />
Hey, edward, are you going soon?? You have to post a trip report!
Carol Hill
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Re: Croc eats a Dr in NE Botswana
[Re: sailn]
#4550
03/24/2006 12:34 PM
03/24/2006 12:34 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Tragic but a very rare event. Similar to barracudas coming out of the water to get a womans earrings. It happens but rarely.
A question to ask is if the amount of boats and people and certain other enviormental concerns (exposure to people, dangerous feeding practices, available food) contributed.
Hippos are a far more common and a very real danger.
~Stiv
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Re: Croc eats a Dr in NE Botswana
[Re: Eric_Hill]
#4552
03/24/2006 01:41 PM
03/24/2006 01:41 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Eric, I've been in some pretty dicey situations with guides (Armed and unarmed) and I've never seen guides more nervouse than when we were on Lake Tana Ethiopia and asked them "Let's go see some hippos!" and we were in a failry sizeable boat (Only slightly larger then the hippos)and those puppies did not like us coming close as the group had a baby that was kind of scared of us. We were about 30 yards away. The bulls would raise thier heads out of the water and roar at us.
The guides (and us) got really wigged out when we started seeing these big black shadows criss crossing underneath our boat, just waiting for some giant head to pop up out right next to us or for them to start bumping the boat. We got out of there quick.
They pulled out thier bag of qat and all had a chew to calm down.
Best, Stiv
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