Experience: I Was Swallowed By a Hippo

Guardian ^ | Friday 3 May 2013 | Paul Templer

[Puppage]

Most people do however normally think of insects and animals as distinct.

Of course they do.

[nickcarraway]

Is it possible Jonas was in the belly of a hippo not a whale?

[Ax]

Back in 1983, I was TDY to the US Embassy in Lusaka, Zambia. My boss
and I took a weekend off and went to live rough in the bush. We were going fishing on the Zambezi in one of his Zambian pal’s 17-foot boat. There were four of us. Another Zambian dude was with us. He knew every foot of the Zambezi east of Vic Falls. He was a “wildlife management officer without portfolio,” a.k.a. a poacher. We were about 50 yards from the Rhodesian side. That’s where I also saw my first elephant in the wild. We were fishing when all of a sudden there was a big explosion of water and a big bull hippo’s head broke water. To me, it looked like a 55-gallon drum; I was terrified. Hippos are known to tip boats over and dump the passengers into the croc-infested river. That was one of the main adventures of my 70 years.

[Slings and Arrows]

Which one?

[JRios1968]

But children still sing of their desire for a hippopotamus for Christmas.

No crocodiles or rhinoceroseses?

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

LOL! Very good. OH the ignominy of it all!

[Ditter]

The guy went back to give the hippo the chance to get his other arm. Idiot!

[verga]

time passes very slowly when you're in a hippo's mouth.

Priceless quote.