When one considers big and dangerous game hunting in Africa, the mighty hippo remains a true bucket list contender for many international game hunting enthusiasts, looking for the ultimate hunting adventure. Extremely territorial, aggressive, and mean, with a set of tusks that can literally chop an adult male in half, these huge mammals are not an adversary to be taken lightly. As a member of the Dangerous 7, they deserve respect, careful preparedness, and precise shot placement to ensure a successful hippo hunt.
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The Hippo
The hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius), often referred to as a “land whale” is the second largest terrestrial mammal, after the African elephant. A weighty herbivorous member of the Dangerous 7, these semi-aquatic creatures prefer a water-based habitat as they spend up to 16 hours a day in the water. Areas such as swamps, streams, rivers, and estuaries allow this dangerous mammal to be kept cool and watered, with their skins protected from the harsh African sun.
Hippos weigh from around 3,500 pounds upwards but can reach up to 9,000 pounds or more. While some Disney movies may have portrayed them as sweet and caring, hippos are mostly territorial, aggressive, and quite vicious. They are responsible for the death of more than 500 humans per annum, more than any of the other dangerous game species in Africa.
Hippos inhabit large areas of sub-Saharan Africa, including Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe Namibia, South Africa, and Tanzania, as well as Kenya, Uganda, and the DRC, amongst others.
Hippo hunting safaris use various hunting methods to target this dangerous adversary. Firstly, the walk-and-stalk will see you creep up upon and stalk your hunting trophy, surprising them. The second option is the target the hippo on land, as it exits the water to feed around dusk or on its way back to the water later that night or early the next morning. This too, is a perilous option, as a hippo will not stop and will take out anything that is in its way. Lastly, the hippo could be taken in the water, but this is an extremely difficult angle, as the shot placement area is exceptionally tiny.
Who are the Dangerous 7?
The Dangerous 7 are seven of the most dangerous African animals to hunt. Their members include the Big 5, namely the lion, leopard, Cape buffalo, rhino, and elephant, with the last two members comprising the Dangerous 7 being the Nile crocodile and hippo.
Each of these members is extremely dangerous, and aggressive, and provides hunters with a unique set of challenges to overcome when targeting them. A quick reminder that dangerous game hunting is not for novice or inexperienced hunters but rather knowledgeable hunters who are looking for a new, exciting, and adrenaline-filled hunt that is set to challenge their skills, experience, patience, courage, and determination.
Why are Hippos Hunted?
Hippos are hunted for a variety of reasons. Firstly, because of human-wildlife conflict. Hippos’ habitats are diminishing as human populations worldwide increase and this results in the hippos moving into areas where they destroy and damage property while they go in search of food. This makes them a target to be eliminated, as they are seen as a problem in the area. They can also be a danger to the local communities who live near the water’s edge, which is then another reason to hunt and eliminate them.
Hippos are also poached or hunted illegally. Many rural communities need protein, and these land whales are large enough to allow many families in the local communities to enjoy some much-needed meat. Hippos are also hunted for their tusks. Hippo hunts may be conducted for conservation reasons, such as culling hunts or a hunt targeting a specific hippo that is causing issues within the hippo troop itself.
Hippos are also targeted during game hunting safaris, while legally hunting these land whales hunters contribute to their conservation as well as programs and initiatives to ensure their well-being and survival going forward.
What makes Hippo Hunts so Popular?
Dangerous game hunting is almost seen as a rite of passage amongst experienced game hunters. Hunting a member of the Big 5, or Dangerous 7, not only allows the hunter the chance to target one of the most dangerous animals on earth, but also the opportunity to prove his expert hunting skills in the process.
Dangerous game hunting requires stealth, excellent shot placement, knowledge of your adversary, patience, determination, and a healthy dose of guts!
Hunting hippos is also extremely difficult, as most of the time the hippo is settled in a body of water where it spends most of its time, leaving a very small target for shot placement sticking out of the water.
Hippo hunting is about harvesting a great dangerous game hunting trophy, together with a large set of tusks, but it is also about the pure victory of facing one of the most dangerous animals on earth and coming out victorious.
Are Hippo Hunts Dangerous?
Yes, hippos are extremely dangerous to hunt. They have rightfully earned their spot in the Dangerous 7, as one of the world’s most dangerous animals to target on an African safari. The main reason they pose such a threat is firstly, due to their size. Hippos are not called land whales in vain, and an adult weight starts at around 3,500 pounds and upwards, tipping the scale at more than 9,000 pounds! To have something that big, charging down on you is beyond dangerous – and scary!
Secondly, their humungous tusks that never stop growing are dangerous tools. These tusks can reach a foot in size, and they are used in both fighting and defense. A hippo is not known to back down from a fight and these weapons equip it well to face any danger that it encounters, whether on land or in the water.
Popular Destinations for Hippo Hunting in Africa
Numerous African destinations offer hippo hunting in Africa. Some of the more popular options include Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, and Mozambique.
Lake Kariba, on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe is a prime dangerous game hunting destination, while Mozambique’s Lake Cahora Bassa produces exceptional trophies when hunting hippos. South Africa’s Limpopo province is the pinnacle of many dangerous game hunting species, including the hippo, while Namibia’s Zambezi region (formerly known as the Caprivi Strip) is synonymous with hippo hunting. Botswana’s Okavango Delta is renowned for its hippo hunting, while Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve also has some great trophies.
Each destination has its advantages and offers hunters unique conditions, challenges, and hunting experiences to excite and enthrall them.
How about a Dangerous Game Hunting Combination Hunt?
If the budget and timing allow, why not arrange a tag to target the other dangerous game hunting member that frequents the same habitat as the hippo? This may come in handy should you manage to harvest your hippo within the first day or two of arrival, and still have time on your hands to enjoy another African hunt.
The man-eating Nile crocodile is a bloodthirsty apex predator well worth targeting. Sharing the same habitat as the hippo, this prehistoric reptile is an exciting, challenging, and exhilarating dangerous game hunting experience!
What Caliber Rifle do I need for a Hippo Hunting Safari?
As hippos are a dangerous game hunting target, the minimum legal requirement is a .375 caliber rifle, using a minimum of a 300-grain bullet. A .416 Riby and .458 Lott will also get the job done without mess or fuss.
This type of caliber is required because the hippo has an incredibly thick skull and vertebrae that the bullets need to penetrate. Hippos are known to be very difficult to kill.
Shot Placement on a Hippo Hunts
Shot placement while hunting hippos is of the utmost importance, as with any other game hunting safari that you may have experienced. The only difference this time is that your prey is very likely going to turn on you in a fit of anger and attempt to kill you! Moral of the story? Make the first shot count.
Hunters are always told, that if they are unsure, they should rather wait for another opportunity because it will come. Wiser words when it comes to dangerous game hunting, have never been uttered. Wait…and don’t get charged. Wait….and don’t get squashed. Wait….and don’t get bitten in two by an aggressive hippo bull! All very sensible advice…
Shot placement on hippo hunts can be very challenging, as more than two-thirds of the time the target is in the water, with only a small section of their head showing. Challenging? Yes. Impossible? No. But you do need to wait for the perfect shot.
What happens if I misjudge the first shot, or if it is inaccurate?
If your hippo is in the water, and your first shot on a hippo hunt misses or does not hit the target accurately, there is a very good chance that you will lose your game hunting trophy. Hippos have very thick skulls, and you could literally have knocked the hippo unconscious, and it may sink underwater where it remains or re-emerge elsewhere (an adult hippo can hold its breath for up to five minutes) or you may just have nicked your trophy, and again it sinks underwater, this time never to be seen again as it escapes.
Learn more about shot placement on a hippo and how best to target it, whether it be on land, or in the water.
Hunting Hippos in Africa: An Exceptional Safari Experience
Hippo hunting in Africa allows hunters to experience the thrill of dangerous game hunting by targeting this aggressive, territorial water-based member of the Dangerous 7. Hippo hunts are known for their combination of skills needed for a successful hunt: From patience and calm to courage and an accurate eye, this game hunt is a challenging safari well worth the wait!
Author: B. Hershensohnn