Wildlife
Hippos in East Africa: Behaviour, Danger and the Best Places to See Them
How hippos live, why they are so dangerous, how they shape rivers and grasslands, and the best places in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to see them.
Hippos are one of the most entertaining animals to watch on safari, and one of the most dangerous. Pods of them crowd into rivers and pools, grunting, yawning and jostling, while at night they leave the water to graze on land. Seeing a pool packed with hippos is a highlight of many trips.
Built for water
Hippos spend the day in water to keep cool and protect their sensitive skin from the sun. Their eyes, ears and nostrils sit on top of the head, so they can see, hear and breathe while almost completely submerged. They cannot swim in the usual sense; instead they walk or bounce along the bottom. Their skin produces a reddish secretion that acts like a sunscreen and may help prevent infection.
Night grazers
After dark, hippos leave the water and walk inland along well-worn paths to graze, sometimes travelling several kilometres and eating large amounts of grass. Their grazing creates short “hippo lawns” near rivers, and the nutrients from their dung, deposited in the water, feed fish and other aquatic life.
Social life
Hippos live in groups led by a dominant bull, who defends a stretch of river or pool. Bulls display by yawning to show their huge canine teeth, and fights between rivals can be violent. Females with young calves are especially protective.
Why hippos are dangerous
Hippos are responsible for many human deaths in Africa each year. They can be aggressive when disturbed, especially if someone comes between a hippo and the water, or approaches a mother and calf. On land they can run surprisingly fast. Never walk near water at dusk or at night without a guide, and keep a respectful distance on boat trips.
Where to see hippos
- Kenya: the Mara River in the Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha (by boat), Mzima Springs in Tsavo West and Lake Baringo.
- Tanzania: the Retima hippo pool in the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater’s Ngoitoktok springs, Lake Manyara, the Rufiji River in Nyerere and the Katuma River in Katavi, where hundreds crowd together in the dry season.
- Uganda: the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Nile in Murchison Falls, both on excellent boat trips.
Read our guides to Katavi and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
We plan private safaris across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda, and write from time spent in these parks.
