Dangerous

On the edge of the lawn area in front of the small lodge at Hwange Nat'l Park is a sign "WARNING ... Elephants on grounds at night". Visiting Lake Baringo (Kenya) in 1999, my wife, Betsy, and I noticed no warning signs, but as dusk approached a guard with a rifle appeared on the lawn-- shortly before some of the lake's hippos wandered out of the water to graze on the grounds. Over and over again I have heard that hippos are the most dangerous of African animals-- that they "will bite you in two." Presence of the armed guard was comforting as we walked back to our room in the dark after dinner.

In this scene from Lake Manyara, the hippos seem peaceful-- quietly admiring the young one.