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The distribution of free living hippopotamus is now restricted to areas along permanent rivers, dams and lakes in the extreme northern and eastern parts of southern Africa as well as northern parts of Kwazulu-Natal. They normally occur in herds composed of cows, young and a dominant bull. The dominant bull marks its territory with dung scattered by a vigorous sideways flicking of the tail. Territoriality is, however, only strong in and close to the water and almost vanishes in the feeding-grounds. These massive 1 000 - 2 000 kg semi-aquatic mammals spend much of the day lying either in water or up on the sand- or mud-banks in the sun (particularly in winter). Adult bulls can remain under water for up to six minutes. The hippopotamus is extremely vocal, its deep roaring grunts and snorts constituting one of the typical sounds of Africa.
 Neil with Hippos's on Chobe River, Botswana At night they move off to feeding-grounds, travelling along fixed pathways which are in extreme cases as far as 30 km from the water. Mating takes place in the water but birth is given in dense cover on land. A calf of about 30 kg is born after a gestation of 225 to 257 days and the cow and her calf remain separated from the herd for several months. When provoked, a hippopotamus can be extremely dangerous, particularly solitary bulls and cows with calves. There have been several cases of human beings accidentally coming too close and being charged and trampled to death. (Afrikaans: Seekoei). |
Take a photo safari tour of the animals we saw!
Hippo Yawn Rock - Western Australia. Near Lake Grace, hometown of Meg