Nose to Nose

Water holes for a long time during the summer rain season were one of the best places to get close up views of hippos. This is why we decided to check one of the nearby water holes for Hippo. We were not prepared for what we were about to see. While watching a Hippo bull at one of the water holes a buffalo bull arrived for a drink. The hippo decided to get out of the water and walk around the buffalo to a nearby bush. After marking his territory by reversing into a bush and splashing his dung by wagging his tail from side to side while defecating, he proceeded to approach the buffalo and these two huge herbivores stood almost nose to nose staring at each other. After staring each other down for a few minutes the hippo decided the water was a better place to be.

Posted: Exeter by Craig Paulsen, Date: 1 May 2008