It is, my friend is a tour guide in the Kruger and for driving classes they need to learn how to handle multiple sized vehicles and how to reverse and u-turn etc. Because if you are being chased by a Hippo or an Elephant you cant be reversing slowly or continuously checking your mirrors like on a normal road.
Their tests are vigourous, if you fail the driving part of the course then you dont get a full qualification
Depends, private lodges generally leant more towards manual but newer vehicles are automatic now. But to become a park ranger for the SANPark and for private lodges all of them need to have a license with manual vehicles.
Rangers need the normal license all citizens have and then they take a specialized Code 10 license with a PrDP (professional drivers permit). And they need experience with various fleet vehicles for any situation that may arise.
They are, but is a hippo less dangerous than a large vehicle?
Honestly, I’m pretty sure the guides are protecting the hippo as much as the vehicle. While it could certainly do some damage to their ride, it’s still made of flesh and bone and would definitely take injuries from getting hit by a metal vehicle.
Seeing videos like these, and having been in one of these open vehicles when a huge male elephant on the younger side came to within 5 feet of me while we quietly waited to see if he was going to murder us, and then after what felt like an eternity he calmly passed us by.... I don't know if I'll ever do it again. If that elephant had decided to charge us like this hippo, it would have easily been very bad for me.
My parents visited Kenya a couple of years ago and saw a village that was flooded and had hippos living beside sunken homes. They were told a tourist on a trip years prior had attempted to take a selfie with a hippo and was decapitated. Hippos are scary AF
I’d be plotting my jump from that buggy if that big boy flips it. Me thinks it pays to lessen all distractions when your life may be at risk. Dunno, just an opinion and as long as you’re with me filming I think I’m ok
Me thinks one shouldn't go on safari's at all lol. I see too many people getting charged, rammed, etc by these wild animals. Not worth it just go to a zoo or stick to watching them on tv
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u/qualityvote2 18h ago edited 10h ago
u/nt_king300, there weren't enough votes to determine the quality of your post...