Friday, March 4, 2011

Watery Hippo Reflections

On our photo safari through Kenya and Tanzania, we saw countless magnificent animals whose beauty and stealth stirred in us incredible awe.
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Alas, the hippo was not one of them!
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Interesting these fellows are…and most definitely entertaining, but by no-one’s definition of charm would they be placed high on a list of the world’s beauties.

Driving through wild game reserves necessitated our remaining in the trucks most of the time. Danger was ever present as lions slid by close to our wheels and elephants stood nearby in angry disdain, looking as
 if they’d like nothing better than to charge.
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Hippo pools were one of the few places at which our driver allowed us to set foot on the savannah. There were some who regretted doing so one Serengeti evening

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Too busy frolicking to pay us any heed, these lumbering beasts swam, played and fought at a frantic noise level one rarely hears elsewhere. But it was the stench that made a few of the less hardy scurry back to the truck.
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In the interest of remaining ladylike, I will not even mention what the brown stuff splashing about is…but it’s not water. I need only point out that hippos have a quite unorthodox way of greeting one another!
 
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Enough said…I am too easily able to visualize the look of  horror my mother would shoot my way, were she still here to read this post…:)
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(I think I know what kind of comments I'm going to get on this one!)
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Today, I’m linking this to three wonderful memes you would very much enjoy checking out…
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Watery Wednesday
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Weekend Reflections
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Camera Critters
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20 comments:

Johnny Nutcase said...

so lucky! How exciting!! I'd love to see these guys in the wild. Great series, love the third one!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Imodium -- STAT! Now I understand why you wrote "Watery Hippo" in the title . . . .

Sylvia K said...

Next time my family accuse me of having a BIG mouth, I'm going to flash these photos at them!!! That next to last shot ought to get me off the hook for a while!! Fascinating post, terrific captures -- smelly or not! Have a great weekend!

Sylvia

Kay L. Davies said...

Wonderful post for those memes, Lynette! I think if I ever get to Africa, I'll stay in the truck.
-- K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Jeannette StG said...

Heard that hippos are VERY strong! The brown stuff could only be poop, right?

Pat Tillett said...

Very interesting and great photos!
Patrick Tillett, Extremely Overdue

Sherry Blue Sky said...

These guys sound like pre-adolescent boys! Love the shot of the big guy getting ready to chomp on the tree trunk!

Deborah said...

How wonderful to have seen these, your pictures never fail to thrill me :o)

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

I love hippos, but didn't realize they were such smelly creatures, though in retrospect it certainly makes sense. We deem them homely, but I imagine they are beautiful to other hippos, as they manage to reproduce. LOL

Kit said...

I love your photos! Since I will probably never get to see them in real life, your picts are the next best thing! Kit

EG CameraGirl said...

Hmmm. Maybe I now know more about hippos than I needed to know. :)) Only kidding. Your photo Safari must have been fabulous!

Brian Miller said...

must have been mexican night last night...err...i mean congrats on the goddess award...pretty cool to see them in the wild...

Chubskulit Rose said...

Beautiful captures, love that last shot, seems like they're having so much fun!

My Critter post, have a lovely weekend!

Marvin said...

Lynette rushes in where National Geographic photographers are loathe to tread. :-)

Gemma Wiseman said...

Seems these guys are fascinating from a distance! But they are definitely fascinating! I did not know about the smell connection though! Terrific series of photos!

adrielleroyale said...

These are just great! I think they're pretty cute in a filthy baby kind of way! LOL ;) I love these photos though, they make me smile. :)

Everyday Goddess said...

Amazing! I thought this was fascinating so I gave you one of my weekly awards. Come over and collect it anytime if you like!

~ Elise

Madeleine Begun Kane said...

Those are wonderful and amazing. Wow!
Mad Kane

Katy Cameron said...

Hee hee, the hippos we saw were rather more relaxed. Maybe because of the crocodiles they were sharing the water with!

Iowa Gardening Woman said...

Great shots, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and they are beautiful to me.