Even kings get challenged sometimes. A video from earlier this week in Zambia shows a territorial hippo chasing an African lion as it tries to cross the Luangwa River. Safari guests witnessed the incredible scene, and someone from Shenton Safaris got it on film. The company posted the video to YouTube for everyone to enjoy.
“A few days ago, senior guide Patrick and his guests witnessed an intense moment as a male lion attempted to cross the Luangwa River, only to be chased by a territorial hippo,” wrote Shenton Safaris in the YouTube caption.
In the video, you can see a lion swimming across a river at full speed, but there’s a hippo behind it, and the hippo is faster. It’s also much bigger.
The safari guide says: “Look at that! Ohhh, don’t kill my lion, please!”
Watch a hippo chase a lion here:
To the safari guide’s relief, the lion manages to cross the river and get back on dry land safely. It was a close call, though. In Africa, lions may be king on land, but hippos rule the rivers.
Can you imagine seeing this in person? What an incredible memory for those safari guests.