Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
42 places
Wildlife
Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibiusVulnerable
The common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), or hippo, is a large, mostly herbivorous, semiaquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae, the other being the pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis or Hexaprotodon liberiensis).
Species insights
When to visit
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Best monthsAny month
Records5,154 records
Curve from 5,154 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Where you'll find it
Mpumalanga and beyond
Provinces where Hippopotamus is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
5,154 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Hippopotamus
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 8,380a night
Hippopotamus recorded here
Tandweni Villa
Mkuze
From R 14,000a night
Hippopotamus recorded here
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Hippopotamus recorded here
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Hippopotamus recorded here
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Hippopotamus recorded here
Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Price on request
Hippopotamus recorded here
Jaci's Private Lodge
Madikwe
From R 31,500a night
Hippopotamus recorded here
Lupus Den Country House
Sundays River Valley, Addo
From R 2,600a night
Hippopotamus recorded here
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
Hippopotamus recorded here
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
Hippopotamus recorded here
The Orpen Kruger
Kruger National Park
From R 9,024a night
Hippopotamus recorded here
Thonga Beach Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Hippopotamus recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Hippopotamus recorded here
Dulini Moya
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
From R 28,990a night
Hippopotamus recorded here
Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Hippopotamus recorded here
Ziziphus River Lodge
Mjejane Game Reserve, Hectorspruit
From R 14,000a night
Hippopotamus recorded here
Quatermain's Camp
Paterson
From R 11,592a night
Hippopotamus recorded here
Maninghi Lodge
Welgevonden Game Reserve
Price on request
Hippopotamus recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Hippopotamus recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Hippopotamus recorded here
Marataba Mountain Lodge
Marakele National Park
Price on request
Hippopotamus recorded here
Hlosi Game Lodge
Amakhala Game Reserve
From R 4,000a night
Hippopotamus recorded here
Zululand Lodge
Hluhluwe
From R 3,280a night
Hippopotamus recorded here
Lion Sands Ivory Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Price on request
Hippopotamus recorded here
Kruger Lowveld
Next stop
Bushveld game country and the southern gates of the Kruger
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Hippopotamus
Hosts have recorded the Hippopotamus at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Addo Elephant National Park.
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kruger | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here |
| Sabi Sand | Here | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing |
Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.
Best hours of the day
- After dark and around dawn. The Hippopotamus is mostly active at night, so a night drive gives the best chance.
- Daytime, resting. Usually out of sight in cover, a burrow or water.
Where to base yourself
Limpopo
Kruger · Marakele · Timbavati
LimpopoBig FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesStays in Limpopo
Eastern Cape
Addo Elephant · Kwandwe · Amakhala
Eastern CapeBig FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
Phinda · Hluhluwe-Imfolozi · iSimangaliso Wetland
KwaZulu-NatalBig FiveGuided drivesStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Mpumalanga
Sabi Sand
MpumalangaBig FiveGuided drivesStays in Mpumalanga
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Guided drives from a lodge
A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.
Where hosts record it
IUCN Red List
Vulnerable
Species
Hippopotamus amphibius
Records
5,154
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Hippopotamus on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Hippopotamus in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Hippopotamus at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Addo Elephant National Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Phinda Private Game Reserve and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and other reserves. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the Hippopotamus in South Africa?
The Hippopotamus is most recorded in Mpumalanga (41% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (21% of records), Limpopo (21% of records), based on 5,154 iNaturalist observations. 107 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Hippopotamus on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Hippopotamus?
The Hippopotamus is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Sabi Sand Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep optimal; Addo Elephant National Park: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Hippopotamus?
The Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Hippopotamus?
The common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), or hippo, is a large, mostly herbivorous, semiaquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae, the other being the pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis or Hexaprotodon liberiensis). The name comes from the ancient Greek for "river horse" (ἱπποπόταμος).