Prince Harry Luckily Escaped This Harrowing Experience In Botswana

Prince Harry had a near-death experience in one of his extensive charity works in Africa.

According to Katie Nicholl in her book “Harry: Life, Loss, and Love,” the Duke of Sussex got lucky in the summer of 2015 when he was not seriously injured after an endangered black rhino attacked him and other men.

Prince William’s brother visited Rhino Conservation Botswana (RCB) where he learned about the critically endangered black rhinos and worked on a project to capture these rhinos and outfit them with tracking devices. Unfortunately, on one occasion the team failed to administer enough tranquilizer and the half-sedated rhino tried to charge at them.

“The rhino dragged Harry and the men around for a bit, and it was hairy because it’s a dangerous animal to work with,” RCB director Map Ives told the royal biographer.

Ives added that there were six guys on the ropes and they all got dragged about 20 meters before they managed to stop the beast. The conservationist didn’t treat Prince Harry differently from the rest of his workers, but he commended the duke’s humor. He recalled that although it was frightening it was also “bloody funny” as Prince Harry and all the men went down.

“Trying to stop a three-ton rhino with a rope and a blindfold isn’t easy! Especially in this harsh terrain in Botswana,” Prince Harry said about the incident.

Just like Prince Harry, his father, the future king Prince Charles also had a similar experience with rhinos. Anthony Holden revealed in his book “Charles, Prince of Wales” that Prince Charles had a near-death experience with the same creatures.

In 1977, the Prince of Wales expanded his taste of Africa in Kenya safari with his royal sister, Prince Anne. During the said trip, Prince Charles was “menaced by a rhinoceros as he lay powerless in his dozing sack.” However, the incident didn’t scare Prince Charles at all and only stirred a desire for an African safari.

In related news, Prince Charles was reportedly worried about Prince Harry turning into Prince Andrew after leaving the army. The Prince of Wales was concerned that the Duke of Sussex would fall into the same trap as the Duke of York who struggled to find a sustainable role for himself when he left the Royal Navy in 2001. Fortunately, Prince Harry didn’t have the same issues as he opted to continue supporting the veterans.