Husband Sues After Wife Is Killed While Fleeing Hippo Attack During Africa Trip

Mar. 15, 2025

Lisa Manders.Photo:Dignity Memorial

Dignity Memorial

The complaint stated that Craig and his wife Lisa, 70, undertook a safari trip in Zambia arranged through the Connecticut-based African Portfolio.

“Craig and Lisa Manders reasonably relied on African Portfolio to ensure the Zambia Safari was planned, executed and operated in a reasonably safe manner,” the complaint noted.

During the bush walk, the guides noted specific signs that indicated dangerous wildlife and encouraged the walk’s participants to follow the signs, the complaint continued.

The group, including the Manders, arrived at a bank of a body of water that contained a visible, partially submerged, lone hippopotamus, stated the complaint. It alleged that the guides “negligently encouraged and permitted” the bush walk’s participants – among them the Manders – to “approach the water and stand on the bank” to observe and photograph the hippo.

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The complaint stated that the tour guides then allegedly turned and left the area, leaving behind Craig and Lisa as the couple remained near the body of water.

Then, according to the complaint, the hippo suddenly and without warning lifted its head, charged from the waters and headed toward Lisa. The complaint added there was no physical barrier between Lisa and the animal at the time.

Craig claimed in the complaint that African Portfolio “was negligent in failing to provide [a] safe environment during the Zambia Safari” — alleging among other things that the tour company allowed the couple to be exposed to the dangerous encounter with the hippo; and should have known that “approaching the body of water and remaining on its banks after observing the hippopotamus increased the risk of serious injury or death to Craig and Lisa Manders."

Craig is now seeking more than $15,000 in damages from African Portfolio, the complaint stated.

“Chiawa Lodge confirmed to both the Police, and Department of National Parks & Wildlife investigations at the time, that all safety measures had been implemented both before and during the incident, and repeated verbal warnings for the guests to return to the safety of the vehicle were issued during the incident,” they stated.

The company also shared that its founder went to Zambia to support and provide assistance to the family.

“She loved cooking, traveling, visiting New York City and spending time with her friends and family,” her obituary highlighted.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Paul Slager, one of Craig’s attorneys, said: “Interacting with the natural world in the wilderness can be an incredibly rich experience, but wilderness guides and tour operators like African Portfolio – just like other corporate citizens of Connecticut – carry the responsibility to ensure basic safety precautions are taken to ensure customers visiting the African wilderness are not unnecessarily exposed to extreme dangers.”

“We hope this case helps the Manders family find answers and accountability for what happened, while also serving notice that safari tourists rely on the expertise of tour operators to have a safe experience,” Nicole Coates, Craig’s other attorney, added in the statement.

source: people.com