11/06/2026
We had just gotten back to the car when we saw the hippos walking up and around the corner on to the main street in town.
Normally they walk in the middle of the road but not this time.
This time they decided to walk on the left, right by our vehicle.
So we did what we have always been taught, whatever you do, don't run or move or make a sound, when faced with a wild animal.
Now for anyone saying we should have driven off when we saw them, there wasn't time.
For anyone saying we should have stayed on the other side of the vehicle, the hippos often walk up to the grass verge that was on the other side of our vehicle, which meant we had nowhere safe to be if they went that way.
For anyone saying we are crazy, yes indeed, not because we chose to be, but because hippos are unpredictable even on their usual walk through town.
Most importantly, we took the invaluable advice of whatever you do don't run, don't move, don't make a sound and knew that the hippos would move on in their own time if they were left alone and not interfered with. The safest place was in the vehicle, engine off, not moving a muscle.
It's all about respecting the wildlife.
