Retina Pool

The River Giants

The star attraction is the hippo, a “portly beast” that leads a fascinating dual life:

• The Daily Soak: Hippos spend their daylight hours almost entirely submerged to protect their sensitive, thick skin from the intense equatorial sun. They even secrete a unique pinkish fluid that acts as a natural sunscreen. You can witness them bobbing up every 3 to 5 minutes to breathe, flicking water from their pink ears, and engaging in boisterous squabbles that reveal their massive canine teeth.
• The “Cold Plunge”: Look for baby hippos resting on their mothers’ backs in the deeper sections of the pool. While they appear placid, they are surprisingly swift and can be aggressive if a human or predator gets between them and the safety of the water.
• Crocodiles and Elephants: Giant Nile crocodiles are frequently seen basking on the far, sun-drenched shores of the pool, though they are shy and will slide into the water if approached noisily. Large families of elephants are also regular visitors, particularly in the quieter stretches of the river to the west.

Primate and Bird Life: The surrounding trees are a haven for baboons and a kaleidoscope of birds. Keep an eye out for the regal Grey Crowned Crane, the iridescent Lilac-breasted Roller, and various kingfishers, hoopoes, and egrets that hunt along the water’s edge.

Though they rule the water by day, hippos are essentially nocturnal “mowers.” Under the cool relief of starlight, these 3,000-pound animals emerge from the pool to graze, often wandering several miles into the surrounding grasslands. Despite their bulky appearance, they are incredibly fast on land, capable of outrunning a human. By sunrise, they return to the sanctuary of the Retina Pool to resume their day-long vigil in the murky depths.