I was alone one afternoon just before sunset at a large watering hole in the Kruger National Park. I enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere in the company of one lone hippo bull lying in the watering hole. There was no other wildlife around at that stage. While scanning the environment and enjoying the scenery, I noticed that the hippo, lying in front of me in the water, slowly became active. Hippos can lie in the water all day and do absolutely nothing and mostly only become active at sunset time before they leave the water to go and feed.
The hippo bull now had all my attention and I started filming his movements in the water. I was lucky to be filming while the hippo performed a big yawn in order to show me his large tusks and that he was in charge of this watering hole. This behaviour from hippo bulls is normal, used as a display of dominance. What followed next was the funniest for me. After the big yawn, the hippo went to lie on his side with his head under the water. The hippo was blowing bubbles underwater for a short while before turning on his back, hilariously putting his feet up in the air. This is something I have not really seen before and just loved the moment. The hippo bull then reappeared with his head above water. I was totally amused by the fact that such a big and dangerous mammal could show a little bit of playfulness at the same time.