‘Yes. For a few days. You say it’s a wild place. Is it dangerous?’
‘Many people are a danger to themselves in the African bush, jed. If you don’t know what you’re doing you become a risk to yourself and the wildlife.’
‘Are many people killed by wild animals?’
‘Probably more than you read about.’
‘What species?’
‘Not counting the mosquito, hippos top the list, you may be surprised to learn. Yes, they look like big friendly creatures, but they’ll chomp you in half as soon as look at you. They’re incredibly territorial. If you stray into their part of the river you can be in real trouble. Tourists on canoe safaris on the Zambezi are forever bumping into submerged hippos and getting tipped out of their boats when the animal, quite rightly, shows its annoyance. Crocs also nab quite a few p
