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Large mammals
Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus · Hippopotamus amphibius
Grey, massive and mostly nocturnal – Hippopotamus fascinate along African riverbanks with their power and their hidden social lives.
Fact file
- Size
- Body length up to 4 m, weight usually between 1.3 and 2 tonnes
- Males and females
- Males are usually significantly larger and bulkier than females
- Sounds
- Loud grunting, snorting and occasional threatening yawns
- Diet
- Feeds mainly at night on short grass, and rarely on aquatic plants
- Offspring
- A single calf is born after a gestation period of around 8 months, usually in the water
How to identify Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus impress with their bulky bodies and wide mouths. Their skin is hairless, grey to reddish with a pink shimmer, often covered in mud. Their short legs and enormous muzzle with visible canines are striking. The small ears and eyes sit high on the head and protrude from the water when Hippopotamus are swimming.
Hippopotamus reach lengths of up to 4 metres and often weigh more than 1.5 tonnes. Their stocky silhouette is one of the most distinctive in the African bush. Typical features are the large nostrils, which they can close in the water, and the broad, rounded tip of the tail.
More in the app
With Wildful Stories+ you also get in the app:
- general viewing tips
- 26 places where you can see Hippopotamus
Where Hippopotamus live
Discover Hippopotamus on your trip.
The app shows you where and when to see wildlife along your route.
