Sabiepark Information On The Dangerous Water Predators The Hippopotamus & the Crocodile

River Horse Sweats Blood

Like sun worshippers on a lazy summer holiday, they lie in the water. On one side the bulky hippos, like ticks on a chicken, with their dark, plump bodies on farcical stumps of legs. A little way further on, the flat crocodiles in diagonal lines with their elongated snouts and rough scales, like firewood with a coarse bark.

The hippo looks like a clumsy lout

His only activity seems to be a periodic wide-jawed yawn and a grunting noise from deep inside his stomach, resembling the sound of a trombone being tuned in before the start of a symphony concert. The crocodile, in turn, lies as if in a deep sleep, baking its cold reptilian blood in the sun. One may well wonder whether this death-like thing would even wake up if a meal should be presented to it on a platter.

But appearances are deceptive. Anyone who has ever seen one of these deadly fighters in combat, would know that, and also know just HOW deceptive it could be. So would any person, who had been reckless, stupid or stubborn enough to be on the wrong side of these cold-blooded killers, and lived to tell the tale.

These two animals are graphically described in the Bible. In the bush, I love to read Job 39-41. In these chapters God chastises Job for being such a moaner. To make Job realise how limited his knowledge of nature is, and to stress the power of God, Job is cross-questioned by God. As regards the hippo, God asks Job: “Who can tackle him head-on; who can put a noose on his nose?” And as regards the crocodile: “Who can open his jaws? Who can bring a bridle near his teeth?” Job was at a distinct disadvantage, here! Eventually, he had to acknowledge the power of God who had made such awe-inspiring creatures.

Awe-inspiring, indeed! Only a fool will bother a hippo

A sensible person will be wide awake to avoid a grazing hippo, or a mother and calf. The hippopotami amphibius hate to be surprised. Be double on the alert near an old bull or old cow. The older they grow, the shorter grow their fuses.

An angry hippo will rush and crush an interloper. This is the warning of experts who know the veld. This seemingly fat old lazybones suddenly becomes a muscular tank of between 2 000 and 3 000 kilograms, agile, speedy and deadly intent on destruction. Hippos have the reputation that in Africa they kill more humans than does any other animal.

And the crocodile? This water-predator undergoes a metamorphosis in a flash. The apparently immobile, lazy idler suddenly becomes an unmerciful, alert hunter. Its powerful tail can strike a non-suspecting victim like a piece of steel. Or it tears apart and devour the unfortunate victim nolens volens with its cruel jaws of death.

The Sabie River is a natural home for hippo, as well as for crocodiles. Both species make their lairs among the water plants and reeds. Sabieparkers see and hear hippos almost every day. These massive brutes always loaf around in the water or graze on the river bank. Crocodiles are seen less often, but they are a fairly regular part of the landscape near the picnic spot. Even the largest kudus must be ever on the alert.

Before the great flood, there used to be a large hippo pool next to the picnic spot. The small pointed ears above the water could be spotted at any time of the day. I recall one Saturday morning. We attended the annual general meeting in a marquee on the river bank. At the same time, seven “representatives” in the hippo pool formed their own noisy quorum. While we had discussions, we heard their grunts punctuating our wise remarks at appropriate moments: “Hear! hear! Hear, hear!”

The old hikers’ trail was marked with cement slabs on which hippo tracks were imprinted. This hippo theme was quite appropriate. Today, these slabs are buried deep under the sand, but the hippos don’t mind. It’s still home. Every night they graze or enjoy a good night’s rest on their own trails – there’s no place like home!

One early morning hike, along the new hikers’ trail, will not easily be forgotten. Never before (or after) were we so intensely aware of hippo presence. Enormous tracks criss-crossed the trail; fresh dung was scattered fan-like, according to the established hippo pattern; flattened grass and rutted “launching pads” along the river bank told the tale of the hippo traffic the night before. Tokkie and I pointed the signs out to one another. We concurred: the previous night was most certainly a busy one. At least four or five hippo, probably more, must have jollified on the river bank. Have they all returned to the water? Were there any babies in the vicinity? The questions caused some discomfort, while a mental picture of huge teeth kept stirring the imagination.

Have a look at those powerful teeth through binoculars

They are impressive. More than half a metre in length. A source of top-class ivory for i.a. human dentures. In a fight, these killer teeth are a hippo’s most dangerous weapons. It can cut a boat (or a person) in two with one bite. Ouch! And run away? Forget about it, friend. This colossal “tank of the deep” can reach a top speed of 30 kilometres per hour pronto, pronto. Moreover, on that particular morning the hikers’ trail was rather wet and smooth, hardly conducive for sprinting.

Periodical terrifying grunts caused us to stop in our tracks. We pricked up our ears and listened with rapt attention. Tokkie suggested a course of action: if danger threatened, it was every man/woman for him(her)-self! What she implied, remains her secret. Fortunately, we completed our hike without mishap. An otter swimming downstream with a fish in its mouth, a hippo showing its discontent over that unnecessary disruption of the peace, and two playful iguanas were the only signs of life we encountered.