No matter who you are, you don’t mess with a hippo. They’re one of the most respected animals in Africa and even the African lion and the mighty elephant will avoid taking one on.
Hippos have got it made. Their life consists of lazing in the cool waters by day and eating as much as they can at night. They have little to fear from predators and even mankind avoids interfering with their sedentary lifestyle.
Sound appealing? Here’s how they pull it off.
- Self-Care is Important
Hippos can’t survive in the sun for long periods of time, but they also get cold if they stay in the water too long. That’s why they secrete their own sunblock. This pink-colored substance helps keep them cool, acts as a sunscreen, and has antibiotic properties. Thanks to this, they can exit the water to warm up on the riverbanks for a while whenever they start to feel a chill.
It all boils down to skincare really, so get that oil massage, and never forget to apply sunscreen when you go outdoors.
- Make the Most of What You’ve Got
Hippos are amazing creatures, mainly because they defy logic. They’re the only sub-aquatic animals that can’t swim. The heavy bones in their legs which prevent them from bobbing about uncontrollably in the water also prevent them from swimming.
Yet, they can still move about at respectable speeds while immersed. How? They run along the bottom.
If you’ve ever seen a hippo powering towards you while you’re paddling on the Zambezi, you’ll know that they don’t let their drawbacks hold them back.
- Stand Your Ground
Hippos are cantankerous creatures by nature and will throw their full weight behind defending themselves, their territory, or their kin. They’re fast in the water but not particularly aggressive on land.
However, water is an absolutely vital part of their life and they will defend their watery resting spots with all they’ve got. If you get between a hippo and its favorite pool, you better be able to run at over 30 km per hour. They will charge you and take you down.
Hippos didn’t get their reputations as killers by accident.
- Keep Your Friends Close – But Not Too Close
Hippos live in pods and will congregate in their hundreds in the remaining water courses during dry spells.
However, they don’t indulge in any displays of fellowship like grooming or play, and squabbles are a regular occurrence. This social lifestyle is born of necessity alone, yet hippos have been known to defend each other against opportunistic predators at times.
- Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Hippos do what they want, when they want to. They sleep when they’re tired, keep cool, eat as much as they like and stick up for their themselves.
Despite this laissez-faire attitude to life, hippo populations are stable in sub-Saharan Africa.
If you want to enjoy a laid back, low-stress lifestyle like a hippo, it pays to take a tip or two from them.
Live the Hippo Life
We can’t all do as we please in our modern day lives, that’s why we embark on African safaris where we can indulge in the creature comforts we desire.
So, if you want to enjoy some hippo-time, get in touch to book your southern safari right away. You’re bound to learn something during your stay.
