Big and cuddly

by Darren

This interaction between a mother and child shows what makes this animal Africa’s biggest killer of people (excluding the mosquito, and humans of course!). Because it’s big and cuddly people seem to think it’s not necessary to be respectful and to give hippos their distance.

If you’ve ever stayed near a lake where there are hippos, you’ll find they come up between the tents/lodges at night to feed on the grass. It’s a wonderful experience to get that close to them, but it does require you to accept that there’s still a boundary you must respect. The last time I visited Kenya, I stayed at Elsamere, the former home of Joy and George Adamson, whose story was told by the film ‘Born Free’. The hippos come up onto the grass there, and I can remember not being able to get back into my room because one was munching outside the door. I waited and watched, then once inside watched some more.

Yesterday’s Guest Editor Phill Price would be pleased to learn there were zebra too. It was a long night and I was bleary eyed the following morning, although I did have a wonderful encounter with giraffe fairly early that day too ….

…. I need to go back. Soon!