Discover the Amazing Hippos of the Okavango Delta

Hippopotamuses (hippos) are found in water channels and permanent water bodies throughout the Okavango Delta, in Moremi Game Reserve and Ngamiland. They are herbivores and feed mainly on river grasses and vegetation that grows on the floodplains. They are known as the ecosystem engineers of the Delta as they help to create and maintain the mosaic of habitats that form its unique environment. Hippopotamuses move along the narrow waterways and open up channels during the dry season, which helps to maintain the flow of water throughout the Delta. They also create wallows, which are depressions in the ground that fill with water, providing important habitats for other aquatic species and attracting other wildlife to the area. In addition, their dung fertilises the surrounding vegetation and helps maintain the health of the ecosystem.