'I was up to my waist down a hippo's throat.' He survived, and here's his advice

WORLD: He was 28 and conducting tours in his native Zimbabwe, with a focus on photographic safaris.

He had been away for a few years, including a stint in the British army. But he had returned to Africa's bush country "and fell back in love with it. The wildlife, the flora, the fauna, the great outdoors, the space, just everything about it. I was at home."

Templer said Zimbabwe's guide certification program was rigorous, and there was a lot of pride among the guides who passed. He reveled in showing tourists the area's majestic wildlife, including the water-loving, very territorial hippos.

"It was idyllic," he told CNN Travel. "Life was really, really good, until one day I had a really bad day at the office."

March 9, 1996. A Saturday. Templer learned a good friend who was to lead a canoe safari down the Zambezi River had malaria. He agreed to take his pal's place. "I loved that stretch of the river. It was an area I know like the back of my hand."

The expedition consisted of six safari clients (four Air France crewmembers and a couple from Germany), three apprentice guides plus Templer. They had three canoes, clients in the first two seats and a guide in the back. Then one apprentice guide was in a one-person safety kayak.

And down the famed Zambezi they went. "Things were going the way they were supposed to go. Everyone was having a pretty good time."

This Bay News report is based on originating coverage from CNN.