A New Jersey man has filed a lawsuit against a U.S.-based travel company after his wife was killed by a hippopotamus during a safari trip in Zambia last year.
The lawsuit alleges that the company, African Portfolio, failed to ensure their safety by not adequately screening and supervising the tour guides responsible for their trip.
Craig and Lisa Manders were on a guided walk in Zambia in June 2024 when a hippo charged out of the water and attacked Lisa. The animal bit her, crushing her head and body, while Craig watched in horror.
According to the lawsuit, the guides, including one armed with a rifle, walked away without intervening. Lisa Manders, 70, died shortly after the attack.
Attorney Paul Slager, who is representing Mr. Manders, described the incident as preventable. “There are basic safety standards that businesses are expected to follow, including those in the safari tour industry,” he said. “And those were not followed, with absolutely devastating consequences.” The lawsuit, filed on February 5 in Stamford, Connecticut, seeks unspecified monetary damages and accountability for Lisa’s death.
African Portfolio, the Connecticut-based company that organized the trip, has denied the allegations. Its lawyer, Rodney Gould, emphasized that the company only arranged the lodging and did not conduct the safari itself. “It’s a horrible tragedy when somebody goes on one of these trips and is injured or killed,” Gould said. “But African Portfolio’s role was to book the trip, not manage the safari.” He added that Chiawa Safaris, the Zambian company that provided the guides, has an excellent reputation and was responsible for the walking tour.
The company released a statement expressing condolences to the family while defending the actions of the safari guides. It said guests were accompanied by an experienced guide, a ranger, and an armed National Park scout, and that “repeated warnings” had been given for guests to return to the vehicle for safety. When asked if warnings were issued before the hippo attack, the company said only that the statement reflected their understanding of the events.
Hippos, though herbivores, are notoriously territorial and aggressive. They can weigh over 3,000 kilograms and are responsible for an estimated 500 deaths annually. The lawsuit describes African safaris as inherently dangerous and alleges that African Portfolio failed to protect the Manderses from an avoidable encounter with the animal. It also accuses the company of misrepresenting the qualifications of the safari guides.
Craig and Lisa Manders were on their first trip to Africa, celebrating a special anniversary. Lisa, who worked in the financial industry for over 40 years, was remembered in her obituary as someone who loved cooking, traveling, and visiting her hometown of New York City. The couple had three children and a granddaughter.
Craig Manders, who witnessed the attack firsthand, is said to be suffering from severe emotional trauma. “He’s suing both for the loss of his wife and the emotional toll of witnessing such a horrific event,” Slager said. “It’s unthinkable. It’s unimaginable.”
