When people picture hippos, they usually imagine them swimming calmly in African rivers. But that image is misleading. Despite spending much of their lives in water, hippos can’t swim, at least not in the way you might expect.
What they can do, however, is move underwater in a way that looks surprisingly graceful — almost like they’re flying.
Why Hippos Can’t Swim
Hippos have dense bodies and very heavy bones. Unlike many other mammals, they don’t float in water. Instead, they sink. This is why hippos avoid deep water where they can’t touch the bottom.
They also don’t paddle like other animals. Rather than using their legs to swim, they walk, trot, or push off from the riverbed. In this way, they move forward underwater using strong bursts of energy and then glide for short stretches.
Because of this, hippos always stay in water bodies where they can reach the bottom. They move through these shallows by bouncing or walking along the bottom, not by swimming!
So, What Does “Flying” Mean for hippo’s?
In deeper parts of rivers or pools, hippos move by pushing off the ground and gliding between steps. During these glides, all four feet may be off the ground. It gives the impression that the hippo is hovering or floating, almost like flying underwater.
Researchers have even described this motion as a “bounding gait,” with moments of suspension where the hippo is completely off the riverbed. Some videos show hippos moving quickly and silently under the water, almost like they’re weightless.
In rare moments, they’ve even been seen launching themselves briefly out of the water, especially when startled or excited — a powerful movement that’s more similar to a breach than a swim.
Built for Water, But Not Swimming
Hippos are well adapted to water, even if they can’t swim. Their eyes, ears, and nostrils are located high on their heads, allowing them to stay mostly submerged while still seeing and breathing.
They also have webbed feet that help them push off in the water. Their skin produces a natural sunblock that helps prevent drying out. And they can hold their breath for several minutes, usually resurfacing automatically without waking up if they’re resting.
Despite these features, hippos never developed the ability to swim like whales or seals, even though they are distantly related. Instead, they became riverbed walkers and using the bottom of Africa’s rivers and lakes as their pathway through the water.
Why This Matters for Safari?
If you’re visiting Africa and come across a hippo in the wild, it’s important to understand just how dangerous they can be, especially if you’re on foot.
Hippos are territorial and can become aggressive if they feel threatened or surprised. In water, they move with unexpected speed and agility, using powerful kicks from the riverbed to charge. On land, they can run faster than most people, up to 30 km/h (19 mph) over short distances.
Tourists are sometimes tempted to approach hippos for a closer look or a better photo. This is risky. Hippos are responsible for more human deaths in Africa than most other large animals. Attacks can happen quickly and without warning.
Here’s a comparison of estimated annual human fatalities by large African wildlife:
| Animal | Estimated Human Deaths per Year (Africa) |
|---|---|
| Hippopotamus | 500–3,000+ |
| Lion | 100–200 |
| Elephant | 100–500 |
| Crocodile | 1,000+ |
| Buffalo | Up to 200 |
Note: Estimates vary. Hippo incidents are often underreported in remote areas.
The key takeaway? Always observe hippos from a safe distance and with an experienced guide. Whether in or out of the water, they’re powerful animals that require caution and respect.
Final Conclusion
So no, hippos can’t swim, not in the way most people think. But the way they move underwater is just as fascinating. By walking, bouncing, and gliding along the bottom, they manage to live almost their entire lives in water without ever needing to float.
Their behavior is a reminder that nature doesn’t always follow expectations. And in the case of hippos, that makes them one of Africa’s most surprising and powerful animals — both to watch and to respect.
Have you ever seen a hippo in the wild?
Or were you surprised to learn they can’t swim?
Let me know in the comments — I’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences!
Happy safari!
Kind regards,
Lizzy
I now have a YouTube channel as well!
YouTube
Hello Africa travellers!
Who am I? Well, the least you can say is that I am quite crazy about Africa, its nature, its climate, its culture, and more.
As a young woman in my twenties, I had already traveled to several African countries by traveling along in an overlander on my own and mostly camping ( or glamping ) and just fell in love with the diversity of it all.
So much, so that at the age of 26, I went back to university to study biology, which, unfortunately, I couldn’t finish because of health reasons (yes, I got sick from a tropical disease, oh cynicism). But this did not stop my dream of traveling back to Africa several times, and I still do.
My dream was back then to leave Europe and go study animal behavior, especially the elephants (sure, that’s every girl’s dream haha), but I am also very much intrigued by hyenas and other “ugly African animals“.
So, I “kind of” have a little bit of a scientific approach to my articles, when I write about African birds, for example. And most of all: the passion.
But life goes on, you move from one side of the country to the other, you get sick again and top it off with lower back problems, and before you know it, you are over 50 hahaha!
Now, I still travel to Africa, but take it a bit “easier” than the good old camping days, and stay in comfortable, yet affordable accommodations, together with my husband Wouter.
These are some of the countries I have traveled to: Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Tunisia, and a little bit of Lesotho LOL .
While clearly not being African territory, but Spanish, I also visited Gran Canaria and Tenerife, and location-wise, I consider them “African”, because of their climate and nature, sue me :-p
The last trip I took was to South Africa in the year 2023, and it sure got the fevers for Africa back! From the Barberton mountains to the Drakensberg and the Southcoast, one month wasn’t enough at all to see the whole country, so we’ll be back! At ease and with a little bit more luxury than in my younger days haha!
I wish you happy travels!
Kind regards
Lizzy
