When confronted with the sight of a charging hippo hungry for meat , most holidaymakers would run a mile . But one snap-happy couple stayed put to capture the beast in all its glory as it bounded towards them through an African swamp . Michael and Jacqueline Tucker were holidaying in Botswana when the animal bore its fangs at them during a safari . Rather than run from the hungry animal , Mr Tucker , 38 , whipped out his camera . As his stunning collection of photographs show , the animal changed its mind at the last minute , waddling off in search of food elsewhere as their group 's motorboat kicked in . Who 's there ? An angry hippopotamus made a dash for a group of tourists in Chobe National Park , Botswana , with one of the group able to capture the moment it nearly reached their boat in a swamp . Closing in : The animal moved with 'astonishing ' pace said Mr Tucker , a professional photographer in the area with his wife , Jacqueline . Not happy : The beast was far from pleased when the group of tourists brought their boat into its territory of the water . The encounter was not without risk though , he said , with their guide hurriedly trying to start the boat 's engine as the hippopotamus closed in . 'It was astonishing the speed the hippo moved and we were definitely in danger . 'Our guide decided to get us up close to a pod of hippos that were resting on a small island . As we were drifting towards them with the motor off , the dominant bull decided we were too close and started charging us . 'It all happened very quickly and as the hippo was gaining valuable ground by the second , we were trying very hard to get the motor boat started . 'After two unsuccessful attempts the motor finally started and we managed to get away . 'Incredibly , I managed to get a few photographs of the charge as we luckily escaped the angry hippo . 'The pictures will always remind us how lucky we were . ' Get your own swamp : Mr Tucker was able to capture the beasts ' yellowed fangs and tongue in a stunning collection of photographs . Getting closer : The rest of the group remained in their seats as the guide tried to restart the boat , the animal growing ever closer . Off you go : Eventually the tour 's boat restarted , with the animal pleased to see them leave just in the nick of time . Do n't bother coming back : While Mr Tucker said he was glad to have been able to capture the encounter , he said the images remind him of how much danger they were in at the time .
Michael and Jacqueline Tucker were camping in town when they encountered the animals in a swamp . Their tour guide 's motorboat started to start as the animal clawed its way through the water towards them . Mr Tucker , a photographer , pulled out his camera to capture the astonishing near - misses .