Hippo Surrounded in Kafue
A young hippo in Kafue found itself in the middle of a tense standoff with a group of lions. At first, it seemed almost too calm for the situation it was in.
The sighting was filmed by Newton Mulenga, a well-known guide in the area. As it began, two lionesses and several cubs moved around the hippo on open ground.
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Lions Move In
The hippo was away from deeper water, standing on the dry, open ground while the lions gathered around it. One lioness kept close, while another moved nearby, watching for a chance.
The cubs were also in the area, following the adults and staying close enough to learn from the moment. They did not seem to know exactly what to do, but they were curious enough to keep testing the situation.
For a while, the hippo did not react much. It stood its ground and looked confident, even with lions moving around it from different sides.
One Lioness Pushes Too Far
Then the whole sighting changed.
One of the lionesses climbed partly onto the hippo’s back. That seemed to be the moment that finally pushed the hippo into action.
In seconds, the heavy animal took off. The calm standoff turned into a dusty chase, with the hippo powering across the ground and the lions scrambling around it.
As it ran, the hippo came very close to the second lioness. It did not properly hit her, but for a moment it looked like she could be in trouble if she stayed in its path.
A Surprising Burst of Speed
Hippos can look slow when they are standing still, but this one quickly proved otherwise. Once it started moving, the lionesses had to work hard to keep up.
The hippo headed straight for a small stream. The water was shallow at first, and that kept the lions interested. They were still close enough to try their luck, especially as the hippo splashed through the narrow channel.
The cubs also moved near the water and seemed to test the situation in the bold, unsure way young lions often do. But the hippo did not slow down.
The Stream Changes Everything
Once the hippo reached the stream, the balance began to shift.
On land, the lions could surround it and pressure it from different sides. In the water, even shallow water, the hippo had a much better chance.
It moved quickly through the stream, sending water up around its body as it pushed forward. The lions followed only for so long. As the water opened up and became deeper, their chance disappeared.
The hippo had made it to the one place where the lions could no longer control the sighting.
Lions Left Behind
What started as a risky moment for the hippo ended with the lions running out of options.
The lionesses had numbers, patience, and boldness on their side. One even managed to climb partly onto the hippo’s back. But once the hippo decided to move, it changed the whole scene.
It outran the lionesses, nearly forced one out of its path, and made its way into the stream. From there, the lions had no chance of continuing the chase.