St. Lucia might not seem like a hippo hotspot, but the small town is home to the largest population of hippos in South Africa. Not to be confused with the Caribbean island bearing the same name, St. Lucia, South Africa, is better for safaris than swimming. St. Lucia is near the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, home to around 800 hippos. That means that, while visiting the area, you may see hippos roaming freely around the estuary and even in town. These hippos were caught parading around the streets one evening.
While these hippos seem complacent walking down the street, we should note that hippos can be very dangerous. Local residents know to use caution around them. The hippos have grown accustomed to cars, people, and camera flashes, but they can still be dangerous. The St. Lucia Tourism Bureau has compiled a hippo fact sheet that all visitors should read. Hippos cause more deaths than any other animal in South Africa.
Although baby hippos are the cutest animals on the planet, adult hippos are an entirely different matter. Check out this clip of cuteness overload!
In Columbia, there are around 130 hippos that wander the street. Pablo Escobar imported them for a private zoo. Authorities could not capture them, so they roam freely and are invasive. They have been roaming since the 1980s and are the largest population of hippos outside of Africa.
Although many hippo sightings happen at night in St. Lucia, there are plenty of daytime encounters too. It is not uncommon to see a random hippo or two walk down the street. The folks who took the video of the hippo on the left below could not get to their hotel. The hippo was in the street, blocking the entrance. The two on the right were in a residential area.
If St. Lucia, South Africa, is on your bucket list, catch a guided safari tour. But also be aware of the hippos in the street and use caution. If you enjoyed this article, please share it.
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
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