Hippo facts: 12 surprising things about hippos

By Scott · October 28, 2026 · From our 3-week Kenya safari

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12 hippo facts

1. They're enormous. Adult hippos usually weigh around 1,300–1,500 kg, and large males can reach well over 2,000 kg. Only elephants and some rhinos are heavier on land.
2. They can't swim. Hippos are too dense to float. They walk or bounce along the bottom of rivers and lakes, pushing off to surface for air.
3. They hold their breath for minutes. An adult can stay under for around five minutes, and they surface to breathe automatically, even while asleep.
4. They make their own sunscreen. Hippos secrete a reddish oily fluid, often called "blood sweat." It isn't blood or sweat, but it helps protect their skin from the sun and may fight germs.
5. They graze at night. After dark, hippos leave the water and walk several kilometers to graze, eating a large amount of grass each night.
6. Their name means "river horse." It comes from the Greek hippopotamos.
7. Their closest living relatives are whales and dolphins. Hippos and cetaceans share a common ancestor.
8. That big yawn is a warning. When a hippo opens its mouth wide, it's usually showing off its tusks to rivals, not yawning from boredom.
9. Their teeth never stop growing. The lower canines can grow to around 50 cm and sharpen as they grind together.
10. They're fast on land. Despite their size, hippos can charge at around 30 km/h over short distances.
11. They live in groups. Pods are often 10–30 animals, usually led by a dominant male who defends a stretch of river.
12. Babies are born underwater. Calves can nurse underwater too, closing their ears and nostrils.

Why hippos are so dangerous

Hippos look slow and placid, but they're aggressively territorial in the water and protective of their calves. Most dangerous encounters happen when people get between a hippo and the water, or come too close by boat. On safari, always follow your guide's instructions near rivers and lakes, and never walk along a riverbank at night.

Where to see hippos in Kenya

• Mara River, Maasai Mara: large pods packed into river pools, often alongside Nile crocodiles. We watched them from a high bank, grunting and splashing all afternoon.
• Mzima Springs, Tsavo West: crystal-clear spring water means you can sometimes see hippos moving underwater from the bank.
• Lake Naivasha: boat trips get you close (with an experienced boatman) to hippos and fish eagles.

Planning a trip around Kenya's rivers and lakes? Compare safari specialists and tour operators on our safari planning resources page.

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