Animal Guide

Hippopotamus

24 destinations · 16 states

Native Range: Central and eastern Africa

Hippopotamuses can look almost motionless as they lounge in shallow water, but spend a few minutes watching and you'll notice plenty going on. Their ears twitch, nostrils close against the water, and huge mouths suddenly open in a wide yawn that can reveal surprisingly large teeth. Despite their bulky shape, hippos are strong swimmers and can move with surprising speed underwater, often pushing off the bottom rather than truly swimming. At a zoo or wildlife destination, the water is usually the best place to watch them. Look for hippos surfacing together, nudging one another, or quietly drifting with only their eyes and nostrils above the surface. On land, their short legs and enormous bodies make every step worth watching. Hippos spend much of the day in water to stay cool, then emerge to graze, usually after the heat of the day has faded.

Hippopotamus

Where to see Hippopotamus

24 destinations across 16 states

Your ZooHopper Passport

Turn your wildlife adventures into a Passport

Keep track of the zoos, aquariums, safari parks, and wildlife destinations you've visited—and save the places you want to explore next.

Remember every visit
Build your wishlist
Collect Passport Stamps
Share photos & contribute

Create Your Passport

Dan's Passport

Places: 12
States: 6
Wishlist: 9

Passport stamps

Recently visited

Bronx ZooBronx, NY
Georgia AquariumAtlanta, GA
San Diego Zoo Safari ParkEscondido, CA

MY WISHLIST

Monterey Bay AquariumMonterey, CA