A hippopotamus is found in only Africa and specifically west and east Africa. The hippopotamus has two species which include the large hippopotamus found in East Africa and the pygmy hipopotamus found in West Africa. Although the pygmy hippo is extinct. The hippopotamus is the third largest land animal in the world next to the elephant and the white rhino. Uganda is lucky to be one of the countries that has large hippos. These animals are protective of their young ones and their feeding territories and have killed many Africans who try to interfere with their way of life, more than any other wild animal.
Nearly all of the famous African explorers and hunters – Livingstone, Stanley, Burton, Selous, Speke, DuChaillu – had boating mishaps with hippos. All considered the hippo to be a wantonly malicious beast. Spencer Tyron, a hunter, was killed while hunting near the shores of Lake Rukwa, Tanzania.
Apparently the hippo has pink/reddish sweat, which not only cools the hippo down when the hippo gets too hot, but also has antibacterial properties helping to fight infection in the thick skin of the hippo when the hippo is bitten or injured when fighting, generally with rival hippos. Hippos can be found in various national parks in Uganda which include; the Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, shores of lake Victoria and Lake Albert.
So take time off to see the hippo on your next holiday and learn a lot more from your tour guide.
