9 Amazing Hippo Facts to Know Before Your African Safari

As you prepare for your African safari, you’re probably envisioning all of the animals you’ll see roaming across the savannah. Don’t forget about the ones that spend most of their days in the water — the hippopotamus.

There are so many hippo facts that make these massive beings all the more incredible. And you’ll be all the more excited to spot one on your safari once you read up on them.

Here’s what you need to know.

1. Hippos Eat at Night

Once you’re on your safari, you’ll learn what the weather’s like in places including Kenya. Outside of October, November, and December, it doesn’t rain much. And the average temperature at lower, coastal elevations is about 82 degrees Fahrenheit during the dry season.

Hippos have very sensitive skin, so they do their best to protect it from the constant sunshine. One of their methods is to eat at night, which is when these herbivorous creatures forage. They eat grass all night — sometimes, they take in 35 kilograms, or 77 pounds, in a single evening.

2. Hippos Have Evolved to Protect Their Skin

We’ve already touched on the unforgiving African sun and how hippos try and protect themselves from it. Nighttime dining isn’t their only defense, though.

During the day, hippos spend the majority of their time underwater. Their bodies allow them to wallow comfortably, as their eyes, ears, and nose are located on the top of their heads. This means they can continue to breathe and see even if they’re underwater all day.

3. Their Closest Living Relatives Are a Lot Bigger Than They Are

Looking at a hippo, you might guess they’re relatives of pigs. It makes sense since they have rotund bodies and spend much of their time wallowing.

However, experts have found that hippos have closer ties to a much larger mammal — and one that stays far from mud pits.

DNA evidence gathered over more than a decade has revealed that hippos are the closest living relative to whales. Of course, there were other animals between them that evolved and have since gone extinct. But, of the creatures still walking the earth today, hippos and whales are the closest relatives to one another.

4. Hippos Are Almost the Largest Land Mammal

Hippos can weigh upwards of 7,000 pounds and measure in at more than 11 feet in length. You won’t believe how massive they truly are until you see one on your African safari.

Nevertheless, the hippo might not be the largest land mammal you see on your safari. They’re the second biggest in the world, behind only — as you may have guessed — the elephant.

5. Hippos Aren’t Swimming Underwater

You’d think an animal that sits in water all day would be an excellent swimmer. That’s not the case when it comes to the hippopotamus.

Hippos do have their bulbous bodies to help them move through the water. Their body fat makes them buoyant enough to float. It’s a facet that helps them move through the water and stay comfortable in the savannah heat.

Specifically, hippos control their body position with their breath, letting air out when they want to sink beneath the water. Rather than floating back up to the surface, they walk along the bottom to shallower parts of the pond. They can stay underwater for up to five minutes at a time.

None of this time will see them swimming. Instead, hippos move through the water by trotting along the ground below — no strokes required.

6. Hippos Move Quickly

Knowing that hippos don’t swim and that they’re the world’s second-largest mammal, you might think they’re slow-going. As it turns out, they move pretty quickly, so invest in a high-quality camera before your safari to capture them on the go.

Hippos can move on land at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour. Sometimes, though, they hit short sprints at up to 30 miles per hour.

Hippos move underwater speedily, too. They can walk through the water at speeds of up to 5 miles per hour, which might not sound fast, but they can probably catch you.

7. Hippos Mark Their Territory Strangely

Male hippos are incredibly territorial. You may have seen a clip of them defending their territory to other males. They open their mouths and show off their teeth to threaten one another.

In less tense situations, they still take time to mark their territories. And they do so in a rather smelly way.

Hippos use their tails to brush their feces around to delineate which lands belong to them. It’s not just the smell that keeps rivals at bay, though. They can also hear the reverberations of the tail scratching against the ground.

It’s an odd signal, but it’s one that works for hippos who want to stake their claim.

8. Hippos Used to Have a Much Larger Habitat

Remains of ancient hippos have been found far from Africa. One dig beneath London’s Trafalgar Square uncovered the skeleton of a prehistoric hippo.

Eventually, they moved to Africa and roamed throughout the Subsaharan region of the continent. Their habitat has continued to shrink over time, though.

Now, you can only see them in a handful of East African nations. A Tanzanian safari is special for that reason — the country is a major hippo habitat today.

9. Hippos Face a Threat From Poachers

You already know that elephants have ivory tusks, making them a huge target for poachers. What you may not know is that hippos face a similar risk.

It all started when traders banned the exchange of ivory. When that happened, the number of hippo teeth exported and sold increased by a whopping 530 percent. Some kill hippos for their meat, too.

But thoughtful conservation can help bring these species back to their full potential. Safaris are a great way to enjoy wildlife without hurting them.

Hippo Facts — Come See Them Yourself

These nine incredible hippo facts have hopefully piqued your interest in these massive creatures.

Are you ready to book your Kenyan or Tanzanian safari? Contact us today — and, soon enough, you can scope out hippos and the rest of the amazing animals you’ll see on the savannah.