Hippos can be very disagreeable at the best of times, and downright murderous if you upset them. They are probably at their most peaceable in the water, but that does not mean that they may not capsize a passing boat if they’ve a mind to. They spend the night hours grazing on shore, and consume huge quantities of grass, around 100lb (45kg) a night.
These Lake Naivasha hippos especially like the close-cropped lawns of the lakeside hotels, so it’s not good idea for guests to go wandering around the gardens after dark. The hazard reduces towards daybreak when the grazers usually return to the water, not liking to be caught out in the sun despite having their own in-built skin care product – a red oily secretion that protects them from dehydrating and overheating.
Once when we were Zambia, on a guided walk in the Luangwa Valley, we encountered a huge bull who was late returning to the river, and couldn’t find an accessible way down a steeply shelving bank to the water. He was so furious he decided to charge us. (See Grouchy Hippo, Laid Out Lions.) And this is perhaps one of the most surprising things about hippos, given their bulk and tonnage – their land speed capability. They can clock 18 mph at the gallop and easily outrun a human over short distances.
As to good points – they do go in for much companionable honking and grunting when a group is submerged together for the day’s wallowing. It is one of those Africa sounds that imprint on the consciousness – once heard, never forgotten.
Thursday’s Special: trio Now go head over to Paula’s to see her unforgettable puffin trio.
P.S. Hippopotamus – the name is derived from the Greek meaning river horse. Hippos have no horse connections but are distantly related to pigs.
copyright 2018 Tish Farrell
Tish Farrell 
I know how dangerous they are but I still think they look terribly cute!
The babies are especially cute, and are probably much nicer to know 🙂
Some where on the world wide web there is a video of an orphaned baby . , learning to swim.Just too cute
I bet it is 🙂
Where in Luangwa, Tish?
South Luangwa – Tena Tena Camp run by Robin Pope safaris – before the era of posh tents.
As young boys, whenever we visited relatives by the lakeside, we were always told to run towards a hill or any barrier that you have to climb over in the event a hippo were to charge at you. Luckily for me and the hippos, we never had an opportunity to try this out
Lucky indeed, Mak. I read that hippos kill more humans than elephants or buffalo.
Who would have thought?
I think I have seen something to that effect
This post brought back happy memories of our safari in Tanzania. Yes, the honking and grunting is memorable, as is the smell 😉
They are such an odd looking animal, it would be easy to dismiss them as slow and clumsy. Whenever I see a hippo, I think about the dancing hippos in tutus from Disney’s Fantasia. That fantasy is a LONG way from being charged by a frustrated bull hippo!
Glad to bring back happy, if pungent, memories, Joanne. Am now conjuring hippos in tutus 🙂
😀
The first time we went to St Lucia on the South Coast the guy at the hotel warned us of the Hippos as they liked to come out the estuary at night and march into town!
Someone from St Lucia posted a photo on FB the other day showing several Hippos asleep at the bottom of their garden! I kid you not.
Yikes! Snoozing hippos in the garden. You’d think you were dreaming.
If you were prone to sleepwalking … nightmare might be the right word.
Oh, great trio, Tish!
I was pleased to find them too!
😊😊
Today I learned a few things about the character and disposition of hippos thanks to your informative account on these African river monsters.
Happy to be of service on the hippo info front, Peter 🙂
I would like to see these animals in real. Safari is on the bucket list
Good luck for your travel plans.
Thank you
Did you know they’re responsible for approx. 3500 deaths in Africa per year!!!
Blimey, Edouard. That’s a helluva total. Thank you for providing same. But I can see how it might happen – shrinking waterways being in such high demand by humanity and hippos being so very territorial, and testy.
In three years they could kill off our entire town!
I should keep that under your hat, if I were you 🙂
Who would have thunk 🤷♀️
I reaaaalllly like your title, Tish! 😀
They definitely had a wary eye on you, Tish. Good thing you weren’t up to no good 🙂 🙂
Odd sensation being eye-balled by a hippo. We were in a boat too so a bit close for too much comfort.
Up the creek without a paddle! 🙂 🙂
I so love your Africa stories. Can’t wait to get back there myself. Even after 38 years I remember seeing hippos wallowing in the Ubangi River.
Alison
You are quite right in that you never forget the sound of hippos grunting in the dark. Watching a baby hippo learning to swim in Zim is one of the most memorable sights I have seen.
That must have been quite a sight. I’ve only seen ones who have already learned. They seem to bob in the water like fat little corks.
This one was only a few days old, it too bobbed up and down, and when it got tired it rested on mum’s back. Apparently youngsters cannot hold their breath under water for more than 30 seconds.
I always thought they were harmless until I realized that was far from true. I suppose given their sheer bulk, they could do damage and given a bad temper … well … Those are some big river pigs!
And their teeth/tusks are ginormous!
Another great African story and you said he charged, then left us dangling I just had to rush over to your other post. Now I will have to google hippo sounds…
more lovely sights and sounds of Africa from your notstalgic notes – did not know about their sun factor secrets
A handy facility methinks.
This post is amazing!
🙂
Thank you.
Hippos are very dangerous. That was a good shot.
(I didn’t know they still had hippos in Naivasha…)
I’m assuming they’re still there. I was amazed how the seine fishermen conducted their business at fairly close quarters, but I dare say even hippos might be up for a bit of negotiation.
Interesting. I think animals understand when humans mind their own business… 🙂
I think you’re right 🙂
Reblogged this on Green, Health & Wellness.
Many thanks, Pete 🙂
No bacon though?
I shall mull that over. Hm. Hippo bacon 😦
I just came from a movie where a hippo ate Jack Black. Fortunately Jack got a second chance.
Good to hear! 🙂 🙂
They must have been quite a sight to behold!
And a little nervous-making.
I can imagine! Wildlife photography certainly has its risks and thrills!
I learned quite a bit, Tish!
🙂
I’ll never forget seeing them from a boat on the Zambesi, but yes very dangerous creatures indeed.
A trip on the Zambezi is pretty hard to forget too! 🙂
Hippos are so cute, but I know how dangerous they are. I’d love to have seen one on my African safari, but I was in Namibia. No water there.
Not v. hippo friendly, but the landscape is pretty awe-inspiring.
I too am most peaceable in the water… thanks for a beautiful picture… and widening my horizon as much as one has to do to fit such a creature in.
Indeed it takes a lot of horizon room to encompass a hippo. Thank you for making me laugh 🙂
That’s another kind of delight 🙂 Fabulous shot!
Thank you, Paula 🙂