The hippopotamus, or hippo for short, is a huge semiaquatic mammal found only in sub-Saharan Africa. There are only two living members of the hippopotamidae family, the other being the pygmy hippopotamus. Its name is derived from the Ancient Greek term for “river horse”.
The hippopotamus is the world’s deadliest big land mammal and particularly aggressive in the wild. It is believed that 500 people a year in Africa are killed by hippo attacks. Not only are they large and heavy, but their teeth are incredibly sharp. They can weigh up to 2,750 kilogrammes, which is enough to crush a human to death.
The hippopotamus is the third-largest land mammal on the African continent and can be found in several nations in sub-Saharan Africa. An average hippopotamus will stand between 1.3 and 1.5 metres tall at the shoulder and weigh anywhere from 1300 to 2500 kilogrammes. They have a strong sense of territory and will defend it to the death if necessary.
The hippo inhabits Africa’s waterways, lakes, and marshes. A bull hippopotamus will typically rule over a riverbank with anything from five to thirty females and their calves. Hippos spend the day submerged in water to cool themselves, and only come out to graze around sunset.
It is possible to combine your African plains game safari with a hunt for dangerous animals like crocodiles and hippos in South Africa.
Hunting a hippo for a trophy requires a lot of patience. Most hippopotamuses are killed from a distance of 50 yards or more while they are swimming; however, some grizzled old bulls can become belligerent and protective.
These creatures were prized for their fat in times before grocery stores were commonplace. The combination of hippo and buffalo tail is one of the best dishes you can make.
There is no animal in Africa that is more directly responsible for the deaths of humans than the hippopotamus. Because of this, they are frequently hunted as nuisance animals, after which the community as a whole benefits from the meat.
As real Hippo heads are too large to mount in most trophy rooms, imitation head mounts have become the standard. Mounts made from hippo skulls with their teeth still intact are also striking, while the feet also make eye-catching décor items.
You will be targeting full-grown male hippos. Before your hunt, the outfitter will do some preliminary scouting to determine the general position of prize bulls and the best place to set up a hide. While spot-and-stalk tactics are an option, a hippo hunt is typically conducted while concealed.
Hunters can also stalk hippos at night when they come onto land to graze, adding an extra element of adventure to the experience.
Shooting a hippo demands a sharp eye and a deft hand. The first order of business for the hunting party is to decide which animal is the most advantageous to shoot while they are still in the water throughout the day. During these daylight hours, you’ll need to be ready to hunt the hippopotamus in the water with a powerful shot.
Be prepared for a charge if you go hippo hunting at night; a bull hippo that has been startled is quite violent, and you’ll need to hold your ground and fire off a few rounds to bring it down.
Hippopotamuses have excellent hearing and would quickly flee to the water if threatened, making land-based hunting difficult. They can hold their breath for more than five minutes once they enter the water, and once there, they breathe by keeping their head submerged and taking a deep breath with their nostrils exposed.
If you were spotted while stalking, you’ll need to find a place to hide temporarily or blend in with the riverside foliage. Hippos, once they calm down, will start to swim with their heads out of the water for extended stretches of time.
Then, once the bull has been identified by your Professional Hunter, you can attempt a head shot. To successfully hunt these animals with a bow, you’ll need to locate a region that provides food for them so they’ll come out of the water and into your shooting range. Or, you could wait along a hippo route, a tactic sometimes used to track down troublesome hippos after dark.
You and your PH should discuss the best locations for each shot ahead of time. In most situations, a head shot is what you want, but you, as the hunter, need to be ready to take the next step if necessary. When taking secondary or even tertiary shots, the PH is also available as back-up.
As soon as the hippo is shot in the water, it will sink, but in a few hours, it will float to the surface. The hippo should be targeted in shallow water near the bank so that its location may be seen and tracked. Avoid hunting hippos in fast-moving rivers where you risk losing your trophy.
The retrieval phase of the hunt begins as soon as the hippo starts floating. It’s exciting and, at times, downright dangerous.
In fact, you might have to watch as your PH or one of the trackers wade and swim through water teeming with crocodiles and other hippos in order to secure a rope around the carcass. (A smaller boat may be necessary in more open water.)
Once on land, the hippo will be pulled into the safari vehicle often with the help of local residents.
In most cases, only the scull with tusks and the hippo skin are recovered, and the meat is either consumed by the locals or utilised as Lion Bait (the latter being a decision taken out of need rather than preference).
The hippo hunt will be conducted in the same fair and ethical manner as other Hunt24 safaris, with conservation being the primary focus. We believe in the importance of maintaining a balance between conservation and the pursuit of large game. You can rest assured that your hippo hunt with our expertly curated team will be a once-in-a-lifetime event.
