A white rhino charges a safari vehicle, this rhino did not like this car for some reason and chased it a long way down the road.
Little did Stasia Chapman know that her peaceful game drive would turn into a heart-pumping, mud-slinging, adrenaline-fueled chase. She shared this crazy sighting with LatestSightings.com.
“Look over there, a white rhino!” Stasia was on a safari in the Greater Kruger National Park with her friends that were thrilled to spot one of the Big Five animals, the white rhino.
“As we watched the white rhino feeding on grass about 100 meters away, we noticed that it suddenly stopped, lifted its head, and stared in our direction. Our guide, who was driving the open-sided vehicle, sensed the threat and began driving.”
“At first, we thought the rhino might just be curious, but then it started trotting towards us. We held our breath, hoping it would change its mind. It didn’t. The rhino accelerated to a gallop and headed straight for us.”
So, why did the rhino act so aggressively? There could be many reasons, such as feeling threatened, territorial, or protective of its young. White rhinos, unlike black rhinos, are generally more docile and less likely to charge, but they can still be unpredictable and dangerous if provoked or surprised.
“Our guide shouted, “Hold on tight!” and hit the gas pedal. The rhino was getting closer and closer, snorting and kicking up mud with its feet. We were bouncing around in our seats, trying to keep our balance and not fall off.”
Unfortunately, rhinos face a bigger threat: poachers. These ruthless hunters kill rhinos for their horns, which are believed to have medicinal properties in some cultures, but have no scientific evidence. The demand for rhino horns has led to a poaching crisis, with rhino populations declining rapidly in many parts of Africa. It’s a tragedy that we need to stop.
White rhino charge!
“The chase lasted for several hundred meters, which felt like an eternity. We could see the rhino’s wrinkled skin in detail as if it was right beside us. We could also hear its heavy breathing and angry grunts.”
“Luckily, our guide managed to outmaneuver the rhino and steer us to a safe distance. We all let out a sigh of relief and cheered. We also realized that this was not the guide’s fault, as he had followed the park rules and acted responsibly.”