Hippo Heads to the Pool after a Night of Feasting on Grass
Hippos seem to congregate in huge numbers in small areas of water. You can tell when you're near a hippo pool by the smell alone. More rarely, they can be spotted in late evening or early morning as they leave the pool for a night of feasting on grass. It was pretty exciting when our guide spotted this one as it was moving toward the river. He (she?) disappeared from view shortly after I took this photo - I loved the expression in her eyes. I decided we all need a break from yesterday's leopard carnage! Thanks for your amazing comments on the scene -- I know how lucky I was to be at the right place at the right time!
HiHip Horay! What an expression! How close were you? I remember being on a boat in Zambia and our guides weren't keen on being anywhere near these huge guys.
Could be a hippo with attitude! I don't think I ever saw this much of a hippo when I was in Zambia/Botswana etc. Some ears and eyes were all I got to see, the rest being under water. A colleague drove into one at speed in the dark once... both hippo and driver died.
They look so darned clumsy on land, yet they can move so fast. That's a fabulous shot, that expression is priceless, could be used for a caption competition. Love it.
@busylady Yes, a Tamron 150-600, shot at 600 with a bit of additional cropping to get the expression to be really visible. Thanks, as always, for your visit and comment!
Yes - those piggy little eyes are certainly sizing you up. They always seem like a caricature of a real animal with tiny little eyes and ears but a monster body and nose - and then all those bristles. Great shot!
