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.