Some people consider the hippo to be the Big Sixth.  These incredibly large (up to 5000 lbs.!) creatures spend most of their time in the water.  In addition to protection against predators, it also protects their sensitive skin against the sun.  This also makes them difficult to photo, so we only have a few good ones.

This hippo pond is located in Kruger National Park, and is home to several dozen hippos.  Each dark spot is a hippo, and there were many more we did not see.

These photos were taken in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve on different trips.  Each giraffe was less than 20 feet away.

Believe it or not, more people are killed by hippos than by any other animal, making them South Africa's most dangerous animal. This is due to a highly territorial attitude and the fact that they congregate at many of the same water sources as humans (you will see hippo crossing signs in many populated areas).