One of the best and famous animals in Africa is hippos which are huge, semi-aquatic creatures with unpredictable behaviour. Although they look quite docile, hippos are extremely territorial and dangerous, so they should be viewed as a distance animal. They are normally found in rivers, lakes and wetlands, in which they spend most of their time submerged in water to take care of the African heat.
Watching the magnificent animals in the wild is one of the biggest delights of an African journey to wildlife lovers and safari tourists. Looking to plan a safari and want to see hippos in Africa you are in luck! Africa has a number of ideal places where it is possible to see hippos in the natural habitat either on boat, on the beach or even during a walking safari. Africa is home to the 12 best hippo places that we are going to discuss in this guide.
1. Chobe National Park- Botswana.
Chobe National park in northern Botswana is a well known park in the country due to its wide range of wildlife and hippos are not an exemption. The park hosts one of the greatest population of elephants in Africa; its waterways such as the Chobe river are also inhabited by thousands of hippos. Chobe is famous with its boat safari along the river thus this gives the best location to see hippos kicking in the water and coming to take a bite of the lush grasses or even join other animals. The park is usually chosen by people who want to see hippos in the African continent at a close whilst also visiting the view of crocodiles, birds and other wildlife.
2. Lake Tanganyika – Tanzania
Another good location to find hippos in their natural habitat is the Lake Tanganyika located on the western side of Tanzania and it forms the visible part of their habitat. It is also one of the Great Lakes of Africa being a home to a wide variety of wildlife with a vast number of hippos. The fresh water lake is clear and is a non-violent area where a boat trip can be managed and the hippos can be seen wallowing and submerging. The very environment is comparably clean, and the visitors can experience these incredible creatures in a more intimate and calm setting. It is not congested with traffic unlike the other safari areas offering a less crowded and more intimate experience to the people ponder where they should find hippos in Africa.
3. Kruger National Park – South Africa
Kruger National Park is among the most well known safari parks in Africa and is characterised by a host of wildlife species one of which is a substantial number of hippos. The large river networks that form part of the park such as the Sabie and Limpopo Rivers are the ideal habitat of the hippos who are comfortable in the water and most of their time is submerged to maintain the coolness. Standing right in the middle of the rivers during boat safaris and the hippos are often seen and visitors can easily see them during a game drive around the water hooles. Kruger presents one of the most favored sites to observe wild hippos, and a variety of safari activities, such as the traditional 4×4 game drives, safaris on foot, and river safaris, offers a wide selection of safari activities.
4. Okavango Delta – Botswana
Okavango Delta is one of the most distinctive and pure ecosystems in Africa with meandering routes, lagoons and grasslands that have been flooded. It is a very biodiversified place and it is the best location to keep hippos. When on boat rides or mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) safaris, you will most likely find these water loving mammals either enjoying the waters or coming to land to graze during the cooler period of the day. A closer experience can be had in the okavango delta where one can come closer to the animals in an isolated picturesque environment. The hippos of this area are commonly found in small pods, which contributes to the beauty of this distant wetland heaven.
5. Murchison Falls National Park – Uganda
Murchison falls national park is on the north western part of Uganda, and it is one of the most ideal places in East Africa where one can see wild hippos. The Victoria Nile River flows within the park where large herds of hippos can be seen in the process of sunbathing or drifting in the river. One of the best methods of viewing these stunning creatures closely is a boat cruise along the river Nile. The park also has the advantage of being able to see other wildlife like elephants, giraffes and crocodiles, so as to say it is a spot worth visiting when an individual is a lover of the nature. The river is lined up with the great Murchison Falls on which the river of Nile starts its frenzied course trying to squeeze its way through a very small crevasse–and participates in the glories still further.
6. Zambezi River – Zambia and Zimbabwe
The Zambezi river is one of the longest rivers in Africa that passes through Zambia and Zimbabwe. It also hosts a variety of wildlife such as a high population of hippos. The river has a beautiful scenic appearance and has wonderful possibilities to view hippos particularly at the Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia and the Zambezi National Park in Zimbabwe. The best method of viewing these amazing animals is to take a boat safari along the river and during the dry season, most of the time you will see them coming out of the water to graze. Another name that Zambezi River has got is its closeness to the Victoria falls that give an added touch of marvel to the safari tour.
7. Linyanti Wildlife Reserve – Botswana
The Linyanti Wildlife Reserve is another prime location in Botswana where it is possible to see hippos, located in the North of Okavango Delta. In the reserve, there are the Linyanti River, the source of water which attracts a great number of hippos, and the elephants, lions, and other wildlife. There is also an opportunity to take boat safaris along the river and what the visitors are likely to come across are pods of hippos resting in the water. Linyanti region is said to be less dense than other regions in Botswana and this gives one a chance of more intimate and serene encounters with the wildlife including the hippos.
8. Lake Naivasha – Kenya
Lake Naivasha is a fresh water lake situated in the Great Rift Valley in Kenya and is regarded as one of the best destinations where to find hippos in East Africa. Hippos mostly live in lake Naivasha and boat rides are the only way to see these magnificent animals being up close. Wildlife and bird lovers can also visit the lake and also enjoy the games of various birds. The wildlife around is famous because of its green plants and visitors can regularly find hippos grazing in the shores or resting in the water on hot afternoons.
9. Selous Game Reserve – Tanzania
A smaller reserve Spread out and see more of Africa The Selous Game Reserve, one of the largest wildlife reserves in Africa, provides an African off-the-beaten-path experience in viewing hippos. The reserve is situated in the southern part of Tanzania and has dense rivers such as the Rufiji river which has a large number of hippos. Hippos can best be seen in the wild in boat safaris along the Rufiji River. Besides hippos, there are also elephants, crocodiles, lions and several species of birds in the reserve, which makes it a highly sought after safari destination by people who prefer a more remote and personal wildlife experience.
10. Hwange National Park – Zimbabwe
Hwange national park is the largest game reserve in Zimbabwe, and it also houses an array of wild animals such as huge numbers of hippos. The water holes and the rivers in the park accommodate a large number of hippos; we find them either in the water glowing in the water or grazing on the banks. The Zambezi River, which borders the park to the North provides boat safaris that are the best opportunity to see these amazing creatures. Hwange, too, is a superb location to view game with the possibility of seeing game elephants, lions and buffalo and therefore is a very ideal place to have a complete experience of the game safari.
11. Mana Pools National Park – Zimbabwe
Mana Pools National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the most favored pure wilderness sites in Zambezi River that are known to be full of wildlife. The park also has a substantial number of hippos and they can be found in the river and its numerous pools. The best thing about visiting Mana Pools is that you have a chance to take a walking safari which can be very safe and can enjoy the wilderness with a qualified guide watching out to see the hippo and other animals. It is also comparatively isolated so that the park provides a deeper and more personal safari experience than other more densely populated regions.
12. Addo Elephant National Park – South Africa
Although most people have visited Addo elephant national park owing to the presence of the elephants, the park is a great place when individuals ask the question where they can find hippos in Africa. Hippos are a perfect habitat of the park due to the presence of Zuurberg Mountains and Sundays River where they can be seen either in the river or close to waterholes. Addo is also a hub of different wildlife such as lion, buffalo and some other species of birds thus playing a great role to those who enjoy wildlife. The park is comparatively near Port Elizabeth making it an easy access to those who want to make a visit to the park to add to their South African safari trip the sighting of a hippo.
Conclusion
The diverse landscapes of Africa harbor a great richness of wildlife and hippos with their peculiar behavior and environment is one of the demonstrations that any safari enthusiast would enjoy. Travelling by Zambezi River, sailing over Lake Naivasha or navigating through the Okavango Delta, these 12 destinations provide one of the best places to encounter hippos in the wild. These fantastic sites should therefore be on your radar list just in case you are planning a safari and you want to know where to find hippo in Africa.
