As unpredictable as the African bushveld can be, there always seems to be a surprise waiting, when you least expect it, but yet you do. It’s a case of waking up each morning with one thought, and one thought only…what will I get to see today?! With no other cares in the world!
So in the past week, on one such morning, the bush awoke with its usual morning commotion of birds chirping the day to life, literally! We met for our pre-morning game drive coffee at the lodge, preparing and anticipating the unknown that lay in wait…and there it was…
The first surprise for the day!
Right there, in front of the deck at the lodge, grazing on the banks of the Mkuze River, a larger than life hippopotamus!
After having a good look, it was obvious that he had been in some serious altercations with another of its kind. Another bull! Badly scared all over, and in a place where we usually DON’T see hippo, especially this time of year, it was clear that this chap was seeking refuge in a small pool right in front of the lodge! How thrilling!
Hippos could easily be one of the most interesting creatures of the bush.
Spending 80% of their time submerged in the cool waters, which offers them the much needed protection that they require from the harsh African sun, these aquatic giants lead extremely interesting lives; underwater and on land.
The time spent on land, generally occurs during the dark hours of the continent, and this is the time that they make haste and travel, as far as required, for palatable grazing.
Hippos being extremely territorial, with bulls having to prove themselves time and time again, to keep their territory, will fight each other to the death, if that be the case, to keep his pod and place in the pool. This is probably how our poor hippo in front of the lodge came to look the way he does.
But, by far, the most interesting fact about hippo’s, is that they are related to dolphins and whales.
Research has shown that hippos too have a complex language in which they will communicate with each other under the water and have some sorts of intelligence as the dolphin and whale.
It leaves me in awe…deepest darkest Africa.
So in the past week, on one such morning, the bush awoke with its usual morning commotion of birds chirping the day to life, literally! We met for our pre-morning game drive coffee at the lodge, preparing and anticipating the unknown that lay in wait…and there it was…
The first surprise for the day!
Right there, in front of the deck at the lodge, grazing on the banks of the Mkuze River, a larger than life hippopotamus!
After having a good look, it was obvious that he had been in some serious altercations with another of its kind. Another bull! Badly scared all over, and in a place where we usually DON’T see hippo, especially this time of year, it was clear that this chap was seeking refuge in a small pool right in front of the lodge! How thrilling!
Hippos could easily be one of the most interesting creatures of the bush.
Spending 80% of their time submerged in the cool waters, which offers them the much needed protection that they require from the harsh African sun, these aquatic giants lead extremely interesting lives; underwater and on land.
The time spent on land, generally occurs during the dark hours of the continent, and this is the time that they make haste and travel, as far as required, for palatable grazing.
Hippos being extremely territorial, with bulls having to prove themselves time and time again, to keep their territory, will fight each other to the death, if that be the case, to keep his pod and place in the pool. This is probably how our poor hippo in front of the lodge came to look the way he does.
But, by far, the most interesting fact about hippo’s, is that they are related to dolphins and whales.
Research has shown that hippos too have a complex language in which they will communicate with each other under the water and have some sorts of intelligence as the dolphin and whale.
It leaves me in awe…deepest darkest Africa.
