When the camp fire burns out and we wind down for the night, our local hippos are only just getting started. Throughout the day, a hippo will wallow in rivers, lakes, and pools to conserve energy and keep their skin cool under the African sun. But under the cover of darkness this all changes. They emerge from the water and follow well-worn paths into the grasslands to graze. This is when hippos are at their most dangerous, when they leave and return to their watery sanctuary.

Night Vision

Our night vision PIR trail camera captured a hippo just a few yards from the Mattikoko boma. The footage reveals a huge hippo lumbering out of the darkness! Its bulk almost surreal under the infrared glow. There is a certain quiet drama to watching these animals on camera. No splashing, no fuss, just purposeful, steady movement as they head out to feed.

Trail cameras are perfect for recording these secretive moments. Hippos travel surprisingly far from water, sometimes several kilometres to find a peaceful grazing patch. This behaviour is very difficult to witness during the day. But at night, a camera trap gives us a glimpse into a side of their lives we rarely see.

I was immediately struck by the contrast when we were reviewing the content. The same animal that can look comical in daylight, yawning wide in a watering hole, suddenly seems powerful and imposing at night. The hippo’s true scale and quiet determination become clear once it is out of the water.

Hippo – A Keystone Species

Like their rhino and elephant pachyderm cousins, hippos are keystone species, often called “ecosystem engineers”. This means Their behaviour helps shape and maintain landscapes, creating habitats that support a wide range of other species. Their presence is essential for keeping this ecosystem in balance. Quiet reminders that even the most seemingly lazy giants are crucial to the ecosystem!

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