A black rhino attacked a tourist SUV during a self-drive safari in Namibia’s Etosha National Park. The person who captured the footage reported that the animal appeared disoriented, repeatedly ramming its head into the vehicle. Authorities have urged visitors to rely on experienced guides and educate themselves about animal behavior to ensure safety in wildlife parks.
Tourists traveling through a national park in Namibia experienced an unusually close encounter with one of its resident animals. Ebot Enow Ebot Agbor Ndip, a wildlife tour guide, recorded the moment a large black rhino charged at a white tourist SUV parked along a roadway in Etosha National Park in northern Namibia.
In the footage, which he provided to Storyful, the rhino struck the left passenger side of the vehicle with its head, causing visible damage. A section of the car’s body detached as the animal continued to drive its horns into the panel.
Several vehicles behind the SUV stopped upon witnessing the encounter. Eventually, the targeted car began to drive away, and the rhino pursued it briefly before halting.
The tourists had been on a self-drive safari through the park, according to News.com.au. Ndip informed Storyful that he observed the rhino appeared “disoriented” and maintained a safe distance while filming. He noted, however, that other drivers “did not do the same.”
“The rhino appeared to be disoriented, as it had just been released by the wildlife authorities,” he stated to Storyful. He further explained that the driver of the attacked vehicle may have overlooked the “warning signs” displayed by the animal’s earlier behavior.
Ndip told Storyful he released the footage for “educational purposes,” specifically to inform tourists visiting Namibia’s wildlife parks without local guides.
Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) verified the incident to The Namibian, confirming that all occupants of the tourist vehicle emerged unharmed despite the damage inflicted on the car.
MEFT spokesperson Vilho Hangula called on visitors to exercise vigilance while in the park. “Visitors are encouraged to seek guidance from registered and experienced tour operators and to familiarize themselves with the general behavior of wild animals,” Hangula told the outlet.
“Wild animals act on instincts and their behavior can be very unpredictable,” he added.
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