Footage of a massive hippopotamus drenching a heron that decided to perch on its back.

Flitting between hippos, the long-legged bird uses the animals as its own personal islands.

"We stopped at a large dam to admire all the life in and around the water. Hippos and crocodiles were scattered in and out the water," said the filmer, adding that while they were watching, the heron unexpectedly arrived. "The bird did not seem comfortable there and flew over to land on top of another male hippo."

The second hippo then paddles its tail to drench the bird with water from the dam, looking annoyed.

"The heron quickly got the message that it was not welcome anymore and flew off," said the filmer.

While on safari in the Kruger National Park, we stopped at a large dam to admire all the life in and around the water. Hippos and crocodiles were scattered in and out the water in great numbers and this made for great viewing. While watching the hippos this large bird called a grey heron suddenly comes flying over the water and unexpectedly lands on the back of a large male hippo standing half body out the water. Not long and the bird did not seem comfortable there and flew over to land on top of another male hippo’s back. This was not a good decision by the heron, clearly picking the wrong hippo to land on. Suddenly the hippo bull lifted himself out of the water and with a paddled tail-action started splashing water over the bird. The male hippo looked annoyed with the bird on his back judging from the look in his eyes staring at the bird. The heron quickly got the message that it was not welcome anymore and flew off. Male hippos are extremely territorial and aggressive by nature in general. Grey herons rely on water areas such as this one to survive where they feed predominantly on fish and small aquatic invertebrates. They usually feed along the edges of water or in the shallows. Sometimes these areas do not produce enough and the birds struggle to find a catch. To overcome these challenges, this genius heron have learned how to use the back of hippos as a better vantage point from where to spot and catch bigger fish out in the deeper waters.