Hippos !

If you don't know who Jessica the hippo is: Google her. With 150 documentaries made about her, she's an international star.

Basically, a day old hippo was saved and hand reared 24 years ago by a local game keeper, and although she was successfully reintroduced into the wild, she chose to come back every day for snacks, snuggles, and a comfortable bed.
She loves people and has been very popular for years.

As it happens, she had her second calf ever this week, and she was encouraged not to play with guests and focus on her baby.

So we got to play with Xian, 12yo, the second adopted hippo who follows in her steps. He is is not has much of a people lover than she is, but loves his snacks, so he swims to the pontoon when visitors arrive.

Again, they are not in captivity, they come and go as they please. It's all on their terms. Which is quite unique for a hippo, especially seeing as they are the African animal species responsible for the greatest number of human deaths.

To interact with them in such a surreal experience...Read more