New Jersey Man Sues Safari Operator After Wife's Fatal Hippo Attack in Zambia

Craig Manders alleges negligence by African Portfolio for failing to ensure safety during a bush walk where his wife, Lisa, was killed by a hippo.

Craig Manders has filed a lawsuit against African Portfolio, a Connecticut-based safari tour operator, following the death of his wife, Lisa Manders, during a June 2024 trip in Zambia.
The lawsuit claims that tour guides allowed the couple to approach a body of water with a visible hippopotamus and then left them unprotected, leading to the fatal attack on Lisa Manders.
African Portfolio denies responsibility, stating it only arranged the trip and that the walking safari was conducted by Chiawa Lodge, a well-regarded Zambian safari operator.
The legal complaint alleges negligence and recklessness, asserting that basic safety measures were not followed and that the couple was unnecessarily exposed to extreme danger.
Craig Manders is seeking damages for the emotional trauma of witnessing the attack and the loss of his wife, who was a mother of three and a grandmother.