In this candid capture by Brendon Cremer we see a young hippo with a curious expression on his face. Taken at Chobe River in Botswana’s Chobe National Park, Cremer explains:

“This young hippo, part of a larger pod, was very inquisitive and interested in us. It kept on bobbing up and down in the water as if it was peering over the edge of the boat to get a better look at us and what we were up to.”

 

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Brendon Cremer is a photographer and wildlife guide, leading groups on photo safaris throughout Africa. You can reach him and learn more on his website and Facebook page.

The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), or hippo, from the ancient Greek for “river horse”, is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa. [source]

After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third-largest type of land mammal. Hippos measure 3.3 to 5.2 m (11 to 17 ft) long with average weights for adult males ranged between 1,500 and 1,800 kg (3,300 and 4,000 lb).

Despite its stocky shape and short legs, it can easily outrun a human (hippos have been clocked at 30 kmh/19 mph over short distances). The hippopotamus is one of the most aggressive and unpredictable creatures in the world and, as such, ranks among the most dangerous animals in Africa. [source]