![Copy of adventurelandDisneyland](https://blogs.socsd.org/kchristieblick/files/2011/10/Copy-of-adventurelandDisneyland-216x300.jpg)
The Jungle Cruise at Disneyland. (Picture source: disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2010/03/jungle-cruise-original-artwork.html)
When I was a child growing up in California, my family made an annual trip to Disneyland, which was a short drive away. My mother always insisted we all go on the "Jungle Cruise," a boat ride through an unnamed "wilderness". My brother, sisters, and I weren't terribly excited about it because it wasn't one of the fast, exciting rides, but it still made an unforgettable impression. I remember the large (mechanical) hippos in the water that would open their mouths in a threatening way just as the boat was approaching. Never did I imagine one day I would see a real hippopotamus in the wild!
![Copy of adventurelandDisneyland](https://blogs.socsd.org/kchristieblick/files/2011/10/Copy-of-adventurelandDisneyland-216x300.jpg)
The Jungle Cruise at Disneyland. (Picture source: disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2010/03/jungle-cruise-original-artwork.html)
![compressed P1000719](https://blogs.socsd.org/kchristieblick/files/2011/10/compressed-P1000719-300x224.jpg)
Hippos spend most of their day sleeping in a river.
A hippopotamus is a magnificent beast. It's the third largest land animal (behind the elephant and rhinocerous). An adult weighs between 2,000 and 6,000 pounds! How many more pounds does it weigh than YOU???
![compressed P1000719](https://blogs.socsd.org/kchristieblick/files/2011/10/compressed-P1000719-300x224.jpg)
Hippos spend most of their day sleeping in a river.
Our guide, Robert, told us that more tourists are killed by hippos than any other animal in the Serengeti area. The guides consider it the most dangerous animal in Africa. Maybe that's because people assume because it's so big, it's also slow. Not true! A hippo can run faster than a person, and actually has a pretty bad temper. So make a mental note to yourself now: "Next time I'm near a hippo, don't annoy it. I must keep my distance!"
![compressed DSC_0515](https://blogs.socsd.org/kchristieblick/files/2011/10/compressed-DSC_0515-300x198.jpg)
Hippos submerge almost their entire bodies in the water.
The hippo is nocturnal, so it spends most of its day snoozing in the river or lake. When we drove up to our first river, I saw only large rocks….Then one moved! I realized my mistake at once, and called out, "Hippos!" as I grabbed my camera. Robert just smiled. He had known I'd be delighted by this unexpected surprise.
![compressed DSC_0515](https://blogs.socsd.org/kchristieblick/files/2011/10/compressed-DSC_0515-300x198.jpg)
Hippos submerge almost their entire bodies in the water.
![compressed DSC_0556](https://blogs.socsd.org/kchristieblick/files/2011/10/compressed-DSC_0556-300x198.jpg)
A hippo keeps just its eyes, nose, and ear above the water.
They looked just like the ones at Disneyland! (Although I felt too silly telling that to Robert.) The difference, of course, is that these hippos were real. That meant they were unpredictable. One moment a hippo is lazily resting in the water, and the next its mouth is wide open and it's ready to bite another hippo that's come too close.
![compressed DSC_0556](https://blogs.socsd.org/kchristieblick/files/2011/10/compressed-DSC_0556-300x198.jpg)
A hippo keeps just its eyes, nose, and ear above the water.
![compressed DSC_0560](https://blogs.socsd.org/kchristieblick/files/2011/10/compressed-DSC_0560-300x198.jpg)
Hippos keep cool by spending most of their time in the water during the day.
Some people think hippos sweat blood. The truth is that their sweat is reddish looking, and rather oily, but it's not blood. Actually, they're sweating sunscreen! This oily liquid coats a hippo's back and keeps the animal from getting sunburned in the hot African sun. Staying in the water, and putting mud on its back also helps.
![compressed DSC_0560](https://blogs.socsd.org/kchristieblick/files/2011/10/compressed-DSC_0560-300x198.jpg)
Hippos keep cool by spending most of their time in the water during the day.
![compressed DSC_0809](https://blogs.socsd.org/kchristieblick/files/2011/10/compressed-DSC_0809-300x198.jpg)
An oxpecker bird sits on a hippo, eating the bugs that are eating the hippo.
The hippopotamus and the oxpecker bird have a symbiotic relationship. Just like the warthog and the oxpecker, they're interdependent. The birds sit on the back of the hippo and eat the bugs that eat the hippo – good for the birds and good for the hippo! That's a win-win situation!
![compressed DSC_0809](https://blogs.socsd.org/kchristieblick/files/2011/10/compressed-DSC_0809-300x198.jpg)
An oxpecker bird sits on a hippo, eating the bugs that are eating the hippo.
![compressedcropped P1000929](https://blogs.socsd.org/kchristieblick/files/2011/10/compressedcropped-P1000929-300x234.jpg)
A hippo finishes breakfast before heading into the river for the day.
If you want to see a hippo walking around, you have to get up very early. Hippos graze in the grass all night long, sometimes walking six miles in one night! In the morning, they begin walking back to the river for another day of rest.
![compressedcropped P1000929](https://blogs.socsd.org/kchristieblick/files/2011/10/compressedcropped-P1000929-300x234.jpg)
A hippo finishes breakfast before heading into the river for the day.
I love Hippos!!!
I love hippos! I have a question though, would win in a battle, if these animals saw 1 of there babies near the other, a lion or a hippo? I said a hippo, but my cousin disagrees. Guess like she never saw an angry hippo!
Hi Jessica! That’s a tricky one! Both are powerful animals. You’re right that an angry hippo can be very dangerous.
do you knkow how much a hippo can way up to???? How much can a baby hippo wayup to.l
There are some hippos that weigh over 9,000 pounds! At birth a hippo weighs an average of 90 pounds. That’s one big baby!
I love hippos they are so cute
My whole life I wanted a hippo to live in my pool
I saw some Hippos at Kruger there was lots.
Hippos stay in water all day. Hippos are masive animals. I have seen lots of hippos.
wow I lern A Lose from The Lions. and the Giraffes It Is Wonderful.
I enjoyed your coments and infomation!!!!!!!
Did you know that hippos sweat is pink! Did you know that a male hippo is called a bull. male hippos fight and sometimes the loosing hippos get killed.
Hippos are very humongos I have seen one before.I already knew that hippos spend most of there time in the water, because I saw it on tv. There mouths are very big and they have so much teeth.
Wow, that must be amazing! Those Hippopotamuses look HUGE!!! I hope you had a nice time!
Do younohippos are dagers. And hippos have big teeth.So be cefle if you see a hippo.
why do hippos have such big mouths.
Their large mouth helps them to survive. They use it for eating and for fighting.