The Hippopotamus is a perennial favourite with visitors to South Africa’s wild places. Generally regarded as “jolly”, probably because of their portly bodies, hippos are actually extremely aggressive and dangerous and noted for killing more people in Africa than any other wild mammal.
Hangry Hippo!
Seeing a hippo outside of the water during the day is always a pleasant surprise!
Hippos lazing on a sandbank at Nsemani Dam
Hippo cow and calves grazing next to Nsemani Dam
Especially when they are out of the water, and feel their escape to their aquatic abode blocked, hippos become very aggressive. One morning near Balule we encountered an enormous Hippo bull sauntering back to the water of the Olifants River, and we were happy that he chose to follow a game trail back instead of walking along the road!
Hippopotamus returning to the Olifants River
Hippopotamus returning to the Olifants River
Hippopotamus returning to the Olifants River
Hippopotamus returning to the Olifants River
Hippopotamus returning to the Olifants River
Hippopotamus returning to the Olifants River
When they feel threatened, hippos will often rush back to the water and beware anything caught in their way. We saw this cow and calf returning in a hurry to the pool at the Sweni Hide near Nwanetsi – the speed with which they smashed into the water was amazing!
Hippos in a hurry at Sweni Hide (photo by Joubert)
Hippos in a hurry at Sweni Hide
Hippos in a hurry at Sweni Hide (photo by Joubert)
Hippos in a hurry at Sweni Hide
Hippos in a hurry at Sweni Hide
Hippos in a hurry at Sweni Hide
Hippos in a hurry at Sweni Hide
Hippos in a hurry at Sweni Hide (photo by Joubert)
Hippos in a hurry at Sweni Hide
Hippos in a hurry at Sweni Hide
Hippo at Sweni Hide
Hippo at Sweni Hide
It’s often difficult to determine whether hippos are playing or fighting – both look equally serious to us human onlookers. Joubert got this pair going at it in the Gudzani Dam near Satara.
Hippos fighting – or playing – at Gudzani Dam (photo by Joubert)
Hippos fighting – or playing – at Gudzani Dam (photo by Joubert)
Hippos fighting – or playing – at Gudzani Dam (photo by Joubert)
Hippos fighting – or playing – at Gudzani Dam (photo by Joubert)
Hippos fighting – or playing – at Gudzani Dam (photo by Joubert)
Hippos fighting – or playing – at Gudzani Dam (photo by Joubert)
Hippos fighting – or playing – at Gudzani Dam (photo by Joubert)
Hippos fighting – or playing – at Gudzani Dam (photo by Joubert)
Hippos fighting – or playing – at Gudzani Dam (photo by Joubert)
DeWetsWild 
Ek is maar lugtig vir die diere. In 1986 het ek die geleentheid gehad om saam met Parkeraad en Dept van Omgewing in St Lucia op die rivier/ meer te vaar waar gewone toeriste nie kan kom nie. Die seekoeie was reg laangs die boot. Jy kon letterlik jou hand uitsteek om aan hulle te raak. Was maar ‘n skrikkerige ondervinding!
Dit moes n onvergeetlike ervaring gewees het, Aletta, maar ek kan my indink dat dit ook baie senutergend was!
Ek was baie bang, maar moes my “pose” hou, was saam met ‘n groep van meestal man’s daar😅😉
En hulle het weer hard hulle “pose” probeer hou omdat jy so dapper was! 😀 😀 😀
😅🤣😀
I always think of hippos as jolly and friendly. Of course, that image created and reinforced by animations over the years. >grin<
It’s funny how the way animals are portrayed in popular culture can shape our opinions of them, isn’t it, John? Hippos and Hyenas are two great examples of that.
Another amazing run of photos. The degree to which they can open their mouths is amazing, and those teeth…yikes!
They’re certainly good at doing everything in oversize, Lori!
Large and dangerous
Oh so true, Sue!
Dit herinner my aan ‘n wonderlike oomblik toe ek kon sien hoe ‘n seekoei onder die water op die bodem draf, deur ‘n glaspaneel wat die slimme Amerikaners in Disney World se Animal Kingdom langs die ou se waterpoel geïnstalleer het. (Weliswaar was hy nie in die wye natuur nie, maar Animal Kingdom het darem genoeg ruimte vir hom om te beweeg, dis nie ‘n ‘dieretuin’ nie.)
Dit moet regtig iets wees om te aanskou, Tannie Frannie!
Ek weet hulle is baie gevaarlik … maar kan nie anders as om aan jare terug se advertensie van Chomp te dink nie … “ou groot mond” 😄. Pragtige foto’s – ek kon amper hoor hoe hulle daar in die water rond plas (dit klink so lekker spelerig …)
Vandag se kinders kyk mens skeef aan as jy met n groot glimlag van die chomp advertensie praat. Wys jou net wat n fantastiese advertensie dit was dat ons dit nou nog onthou!
I am glad you have given hippos their own spot in the limelight 🙂
These might not be the ballet-ing hippos from Fantasia though…
These ones are MUCH more interesting!
And more intimidating!
The hippos are huge animals and quite heavy,. However they can be extremely dangerous in the water. I believe they have the higher record of human casualties in Africa. Great post, D. 🙂
They can be equally dangerous on land and in water, H.J. and yes, they’re certainly the African mammal that cause the most human fatalities. One of my Sunday school teachers was killed by a hippo while she was on holiday near the Kruger Park.
Joubert gets another excellent batch of photos (but yours are good too, Dries.) 🙂 I love riding horses, but not on these river horses!! The shot on the very top made me smile because if you look closely, there appears to be a hand reaching out from between the teeth on either side. 🙂
Imagine being swallowed by a hippo! 😀
I’d rather not!
That’s a horror movie in the making!
😬
Hippos are still a favorite of mine, beside the elephants.
For us too, Lois. But they’re very cranky.
And you are in for a treat tomorrow, Lois 😉
They are such an odd looking creature. Nice pictures of fighting by Joubert! I remember hearing how the actors in the “Out of Africa” movie were nervous when they filmed around the hippos.
I’ll have to go watch “Out of Africa” again, I’ve forgotten the scene with the hippos. The cast and crew probably had a few armed rangers around for protection.