BLOG: Robin Pope Safaris celebrate World Hippo Day

In this blog, we hear from Robin Pope Safaris who celebrated World Hippo Day this week and share some interesting insights into one of Malawi’s most populous beasts.

Every year on the 15^th of February we celebrate the humble hippopotamus and here’s why…

It’s the 3^rd largest mammal in the world and despite the average hippo weighing in at 1500kg, they can run faster than Usain Bolt, hitting speeds of up to 30 mph! Pretty impressive considering they sleep for most of the day and eat all night. Although they are strictly vegetarian their canine and incisor teeth grow continuously, with canines reaching up to 20 inches in length! They use these formidable gnashers purely for defence.

The Shire River is teeming with hippos, particularly in the protected areas it flows through, namely Majete Wildlife Reserve and Liwonde National Park.

Kuthengo Camp in Liwonde National Park is a fantastic place to see hippos up close and personal due to its perfect location on an open flood plain of the Shire River. It’s not uncommon to have hippos less than a metre from your tent, munching away on grass and the hippo lullaby in the evenings is a delightful reminder that you’re truly in the African wilderness.

Stanford Sinyangwe, head guide at Kuthengo has had his fair share of hippo sightings in the 10 years he’s been guiding in Liwonde National Park and thought he had seen it all when it came to these larger than life creatures. But he was wrong…

While floating along the Shire River with some guests on one of our beloved river safaris, he could not quite believe his eyes when on the banks, an off- white hippo was staring right back at him. Completely awe-struck, taking a picture was the last thing on his mind, but luckily camp manager Mike Wendel was on hand and managed to capture this unforgettable sighting.

This hippo had a condition known as leucism, a condition in which the skin produces less pigment than usual. Sadly animals with leucistic are vulnerable to predators and they may also be ostracized from the rest of their group. We’re hoping this wasn’t the fate of this little guy as hippos have very few predator threats thanks to their formidable presence, and mother hippos in particular are not a force to be reckoned with.

There’s never a dull moment in the bush…

Robin Pope Safari run three luxury lodges in Malawi. Find out more about them with the following links: Mkulumadzi Lodge, Kuthengo Camp, Pumulani Lodge