We were on an afternoon game drive with our ranger Mike Sutherland when we first heard about the sighting over the radio. We’d initially wanted to go on a bush walk but the call was to good to resist – two male hippos were fighting and there was no way we were going to miss this! We were the second vehicle to arrive at the dam. This allowed us to get into a good position to get some great close-up shots.
Mike explained to us that the two large males were fighting over territory and the right to the dam. The one male as you will see in the photographs below is clearly larger than the other. A few female hippos watched on like spectators at a sports game. The battle continued and we watched the scene for over an hour.
You could hear the sounds of their teeth clattering and banging together, bubbles, splashes and at one stage the two even got out of the water and chased one another around the bank, completely enraged and not willing to give up.
This was definitely the highlight of our trip as well as many other incredible sightings. We would have been very upset to miss it.
Photographs and text by: Ken Yeo
Filmed by: Su Jin Wong
Amazing images. Fantastic sighting
Wow, neither was giving an inch. Thanks Ken the pictures are very descriptive.
i know many especially tourists find fighting between animals are drilling ; i would honestly hope none was hurt !
You must have been on the edge of your seats. Wonderful capture and video. Thank you for sharing.
Will always remember this!! Great images and video both of you!!