Best Places to see Hippos in Africa
Embarking on an African safari offers more than just encountering the renowned Big Five – lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, and rhinos. The continent’s diverse ecosystems are also home to captivating creatures like the hippopotamus, often referred to as the ‘river horse’ due to its water-loving nature. Recognizable by its massive size, barrel-shaped body, formidable teeth, and preference for spending daylight hours submerged in rivers or lakes, the hippo is a unique and essential part of the African wildlife experience. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best places in Africa to witness these intriguing creatures and hear the distinctive sounds of their grunts and snorts.
Katavi National Park – Tanzania
Located in the far west of Tanzania, Katavi National Park is a hidden gem that attracts a fraction of the visitors compared to more popular destinations like Serengeti National Park. Yet, it is arguably the best place in Africa to observe hippos, especially towards the end of the Dry season. During this time, from August to October, the park hosts an impressive concentration of hippos. Visitors may witness dramatic territorial disputes as hundreds of individuals gather in one pool, engaging in intense headbutting, clashing teeth, and occasionally resulting in bloody injuries.
Queen Elizabeth National Park – Uganda
Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) in Uganda offers a diverse mosaic of savannah and wetland habitats. This park is easily combined with gorilla trekking in the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. A highlight of QENP is a boat trip along the scenic Kazinga Channel, one of the best places in Africa to observe hippos. The channel is home to not only hippos but also elephants, buffaloes, and various waterbirds. Boat trips are available year-round, making it convenient for visitors, with many choosing to time their visit around the peak gorilla trekking months of June to August and December to February.
Akagera National Park – Rwanda
As Rwanda’s only Big Five safari destination, Akagera National Park incorporates a stunning wetland complex fed by the Akagera River on the border with Tanzania. Visitors are almost guaranteed sightings of hippos during boat trips on Lake Ihema or from the shores of Lake Hago, known as the “Plage des Hippos.” While hippos can be seen throughout the year, those combining a safari with gorilla trekking elsewhere in Rwanda may find the best time to visit Akagera to be from June to September or mid-December to mid-February.
Murchison Falls National Park – Uganda
Uganda’s largest park, Murchison Falls National Park, is renowned for East Africa’s most spectacular waterfall, formed by the Nile as it funnels through a narrow crack in the Rift Valley escarpment. Boat trips to the base of this impressive waterfall provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, including sightings of several pods of hippos basking in the shallows of the world’s longest river. This park is a year-round safari destination, with hippo sightings not significantly influenced by the season.
Nyerere (Selous) National Park – Tanzania
Tanzania’s largest national park, Nyerere (formerly known as Selous) National Park, is intersected by the country’s longest river, the Rufiji. This classic African waterway, lined with tall borassus palms and lush forests, is home to Africa’s densest hippo population. A single boat trip along the Rufiji during the Dry season, from June to October, promises numerous sightings of these aquatic giants, alongside elephants, giraffes, and impressive Nile crocodiles.
