1. Wildlife
  2. Hippo

Hippo

The hippo is a semi-aquatic animal with males weighing approximately 3,300 pounds and the females slightly smaller at about 3,100 pounds (not what you would call petite). Teh male continues to grow as long as he lives. They spend most of the day in the water, but come out to feed at night, traveling up to 20 miles in an evening. The hippo will attack savagely if it feels threatened. They are believed to cause more human deaths in Africa than any other animal. The Female becomes sexually mature at about 5 to 6 years. The gestation period is 8 months at the end of which she will typically have a single well developed infant (calf). (males are bulls, females cows and infants calfs) The typical life expectency is 40 to 50 years. Their closest relative is the whale/Porpoise. They are the third largest land mamal behind the elephant and White Rhino. While they look slow and clumbersome, they can sprint faster then most humans reaching speeds of 30km per hr. We were very surprised when in Sabie Sands, a hippo ran across the road in front of us at about 8:00 in the morning. Good hippo viewing at Lower Sabie from the restaurant platform at night and at Sunset Dam in the daytime.
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HippoKruger

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  • This hippo ran across the road in front of our vehicle in the sabi sands reserve. He was proably a mile from the nearest water and appeared in a hurry to get there. Hippo normally are not wandering arround after the sun comes up. It did though make a nice photo.
  • This hippo was just out of the water of the Sabie River a couple of miles from the Lower Sabie rest camp. Grazing in the daylight is  not a common occurrence.
  • If you look closely in this photo you will see a new born at the rear of Mom. You can also see a croc on the rocks behind her. While a large hippo has no need to fear a croc, they will take a baby if it wanders away from Mom.
  • This hippo was in a very small pond miles from a large body of water or river. He appears to have had a scrape with a more powerful animal. The white substance on the limb above is the cacoon of a frog.
  • Hippos sunset dam near Lower Sabie.
  • A large group of hippos near Lower Sabie
  • These hippos are on a very small island in the sabi river. Kruger Park
  • Typical view of Hippos. Kruger Park.
  • Large group of Hippos on the side of the Sabie River. Kruger Park
  • Sunset dam near lower Sabie. Kruger Park
  • This group was seen from the restaruant at lower Sabie. Kruger Park.
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