Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
Field notes
How they live.
- Diet
- Herbivore (mostly short grasses)
- Social structure
- Pods or bloats of 10-30 individuals, led by a dominant male
- 01
Despite their stocky build, hippos can easily outrun a human on land.
- 02
They secrete a natural reddish "sunscreen" that protects their skin from the harsh African sun.
- 03
Hippos cannot swim or float; they walk or stand on surfaces below the water.
Where to see them
Your best chances.
Ranked by how reliably our guides find hippopotamus in each park. Nature makes no promises, but the odds are not equal.
- Lake ManyaraTanzania · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jul, Aug, Sep, OctAbundant
- Lake NaivashaKenya · Approx. 1,500Best months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctAbundant
- NgorongoroTanzania · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctAbundant
- AmboseliKenya · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- LaikipiaKenya · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- Lake NakuruKenya · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- Masai MaraKenya · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- Ol PejetaKenya · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- SamburuKenya · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- SerengetiTanzania · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- TarangireTanzania · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, NovCommon
- Tsavo EastKenya · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- Tsavo WestKenya · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- Lake EyasiTanzania · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jul, Aug, Sep, OctOccasional
Also out there
The rest of the field guide.
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