Fraud Blocker Seeing Hippos on Safari

Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus

Hippos are a very popular animal to view on safari. Fortunately, they are well represented in major safari areas containing water resources, which they are dependent upon for protection from the sun’s harmful rays as well as from predators.
Hippos make fantastic honking noises and are often observed making threat displays (hippo yawns) or having mock battles with one another.
Hippo pools make a great location to stop for a picnic or sundowner. Imagine sipping on a gin and tonic while observing pods of hippos yawning and preparing to exit their ponds for evening grazing.

Hippo Itineraries

Quintessential Tanzania: River Crossing Season

-Top wildlife regions of Tanzania’s Northern Circuit
-Biologist informed planning to see the world famous Great Migration river crossings
-Private naturalist guide from The Wild Source (name and bio provided at booking)
-Private vehicle with unlimited mileage and fuel
-Learn from biologists at our Njozi Northern Serengeti Camp

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Botswana: Best of the Delta

-Unbeatable value (under $10,000 per person for a 10-night peak season safari in Botswana)
-Three private concessions of the Okavango Delta
-Opportunities for some of the best leopard, wild dog and sable antelope sightings in all of Botswana
-Track wild dogs with your Bushman guides, whose ancestors have nomadically patrolled this land for 10,000 years
-Magic under canvas – all three authentic tented camps

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Ultimate East Africa: River Crossing Season

-The best of The Wild Source private guiding in both Tanzania and Kenya
-Designed to cater to full-day, serious wildlife viewing, flexible meals in the bush, and avoiding crowds
-Wildlife biologists who have unmatched knowledge of the local animals
-Strategically planned for best chances of Great Migration river crossings
-Authentic tented camps with a classic safari feel

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Ultimate East Africa: Calving Season

-The best of The Wild Source private guiding in both Tanzania and Kenya
-Designed to cater to full-day, serious wildlife viewing, flexible meals in the bush, and avoiding crowds
-Wildlife biologists who have unmatched knowledge of the local animals
-Strategically planned for best chances of Great Migration calving and herds in the thousands
-Authentic tented camps with a classic safari feel

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Kenya Expedition with Top Private Guiding

-Private guiding with Kenya’s most legendary guides (Ping or Peter Kiyaa)
-Best of the world famous Mara Reserve plus additional exclusivity of a private conservancy
-Support local ownership – Enaidura is majority guide-owned and operated, Mara Siana is 50% Masai owned and 50% female owned
-Full days on safari with ultimately flexibility of a private vehicle
-Diversity of activities – game drives, night drives, off-roading, walking safaris, Maasai culture

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Botswana: Ready For Action

-Dry season safari, with high chances to see large quantities of animals gathered around limited water sources
-Best timing for African wild dogs denning with puppies
-Plentiful groupings of buffalo in the Mababe Depression increase chances of seeing daytime lion hunting
-Authentic tented camp Okavango Origins, site of BBC and Disney Nature filming of wild dogs
-Sunken photo hide at Mababe provides wonderful viewing opportunities of elephant herds

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Into the Botswana Wild with Victoria Falls

-Visit one of the Natural Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls, during high water season
-Scenic cruise on the mighty Zambezi River
-Safari along the Chobe River where elephant flock in huge numbers during the beginning of dry season
-Two authentic tented camps in private concessions of Botswana’s Okavango Delta
-Full variety of activities that make southern Africa special (walking, mokoro, motorboat, fishing, off-road game drives, night drives)

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Botswana Desert and Delta Safari

-Top wildlife viewing regions of Botswana at 40-50% discount off peak season
-Focused on private concessions where there are very few vehicles traversing extremely large areas
-Expert guide AND a tracker per vehicle to increase chances for wildlife sightings, especially predators
-Green season magic – well-fed and watered animals, lots of baby herbivores, dramatic lighting for photography
-Avoid the higher crowds and inaccessible prices of peak season

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Kenya Family Safari

-Family-oriented with private guides, family tents, and a private bush house with a pool
-Special kids’ activities, including bush tracking, local school visit, Maasai cultural learning
-Explore the best regions of the Mara for charismatic big cat sightings
-Visit the unique Laikipia region, inspiration for the animators of “The Lion King”
-Diverse activities to beat boredom! (day and night game drives, guided walks, horse riding, camel treks, sleep outs, Samburu cultural visits, mountain biking)

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Tanzania Elevated

-The quintessential “bush and beach” combination – perfect for honeymooners
-Luxurious safari camps offering the best locations with peak service
-Private naturalist guide from The Wild Source and private vehicle throughout safari
-Classic game driving plus crater hikes, cultural visits and beach adventures
-Snorkeling, kayaking, spa treatments and more on stunning Pemba Island

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Kenya Elevated

-An off-season luxury safari at a 40% discount compared to peak season
-Secret February wildlife – resident Loita herd of 200,000 wildebeest in the Mara calve in mid-February, big cat viewing is typically excellent
-Crowds much smaller than the high season
-Stay at exquisite luxury camps, including the most famous in Kenya, Mara Plains
-Pair the Mara with the stunning, unique scenery of Northern Kenya and the Chyula Hills

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African Wild Dogs

Botswana Elevated

-Exquisite luxury camps offering supreme service
-Combines the best two regions of Botswana for diverse wildlife viewing: the Okavango Delta and Selinda Reserve
-Private concession areas only, limited to a small number of guests traversing extremely large areas
-Off-road game driving with incredibly close viewing of predators
-Variety of activities including walking, night drives, boating, mokoro canoeing and off-roading

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Ultimate Uganda

-The best that Uganda has to offer for wildlife aficionados in under 2 weeks
-Ample time on foot with our primate relatives, with both chimp and gorilla trekking
-Boating safaris – ply the waters of the famous Nile River and the Kazinga Channel, watching for elephant and crocodile on the shores, and hundreds of bird species
-Track lions on the plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park and game drive in a private concession area of the park, staying along the water
-Witness vibrant community and local life as you drive through large swaths of the Ugandan countryside

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Zambia Walking and Waterways Safari

-A vintage safari experience staying in remote, intimate bushcamps, with excellent guiding and lots of adventure including river-based activities
-Explore on foot in the South Luangwa,the birthplace of walking safaris, where animals are habituated to humans on foot
-True night drives, staying out for long periods of time rather than just a quick sundown drive on the way back to camp for dinner.
-Exceptional guiding by local Zambian guides
-Wildlife ranges from the iconic safari species (lion, leopard, elephant, giraffe, hippo, zebra and more) to rarer species such as the African wild dog.

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African Explorer Safari

-Unique pan-African itinerary combining two of the continent’s best wildlife viewing regions
-Authentic, intimate tented camps with legendary guiding by Diesel or Dicks in Botswana and Ping or Peter in Kenya
-At Okavango Origins camp, pay homage to the Bushman, who nomadically patrolled this area for 10,000 years
-Visit a natural wonder of the world, Victoria Falls, between your two safari countries
-Seasonally dependent possibility to view world famous Great Migration river crossings in the Mara

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Essential Diversity: River and Desert

-Luxury on the wild side – designed for the safari connoisseur seeking rarity and luxury along with the full diversity of wildlife
-Private guide and vehicle at both camps for ultimate flexibility and exclusivity
-Explore the lush, diverse river ecosystem of the Lower Zambezi National Park, where night drives are a highlight
-Visit the best place to find rare species – Tswalu Kalahari – including possible pangolin, aardvark, meerkat, and brown hyena
-Combine and contrast the extreme diversity of river and desert ecosystems with smooth logistics

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Ruaha National Park view of elephants crossing the river

Serengeti and Ruaha Research Safari

-Rare opportunity to travel outside of the Northern Circuit with your private guide from The Wild Source
-Research-focused itinerary where you can participate in hands-on conservation work at your camps
-Classic, down-to-earth camps with authentic canvas style and no frills
Iconic big cats and Great Migration viewing in the Serengeti
-Explore the lesser-known Ruaha National Park to look for buffalo, large prides of lions, and exceptional concentrations of elephants

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Classic Zimbabwe: Hwange and Mana Pools with Victoria Falls

-Adventurous itinerary that features the thrilling walking safaris and ‘big games approaches’ Zimbabwe is known for
-Excellent value year-round with an affordable safari experience at classic bush camps
-Zimbabwe is known for its incredibly high standard of guiding, with some of the most respected professional guides in Africa originating here
-Outstanding wildlife viewing in Hwange and Mana Pools, especially elephants, and 8 large carnivore species
-Visit the mighty and majestic Victoria Falls

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Tanzania’s Wild Frontier

-Tanzania without the crowds – experience seclusion in the Southern parks
-World class chimpanzee trekking in the Mahale Mountains
-Diverse activities with night drives, walking safaris, boat trips, swimming in Lake Tanganyika, forest walks, village visits
-Utterly off the beaten track at boat-in only Greystoke Mahale
-A melting pot of unique animal and plant species not found elsewhere in East Africa

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Hippo Videos

Best Places to See Hippos on Safari

Hippopotamus basking in the sun in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Hippo Napping in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
South Luangwa National Park in Zambia is an ideal place to see high densities of hippos packed into a river home.
The Mara River in Kenya offers great hippo viewing, and often interesting interactions with crocodiles or migration herds crossing the river. This can also be seen from the Tanzania side of the Mara River, however camps are not nestled against the river banks on the Tanzania side the way you can find them on the Kenya side.
An interesting and unusual view takes place at Katavi National Park in Tanzania where hundreds of hippos try to crowd into disappearing water areas late in the dry season.
Northern Botswana offers excellent viewing of hippos from the many channels and lagoons of the Okavango Delta and Chobe River.

Something Extra

Shenton Safaris in the Northern region of the South Luangwa National Park, Zambia offers an exclusive “Hippo Hide” situated conveniently on a corner of the confluence of the Luangwa and Mwamba Rivers. Hundreds of hippos congregate throughout the season, and the hide offers an eye-level vantage point to observe their interactions.
For intrepid travelers, the Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia and Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe offer canoeing adventures. Set out with an experienced guide to enjoy wildlife that come to the banks to quench their thirst. This most often includes observing the fascinating hippo pods before they shelter into the depths of the river.

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