February 15 is national hippo day. Growing up, hippos were my favorite animal! I LOVED seeing them. When we were at a zoo that didn’t have hippos, my parents instead ushered me to the tapir exhibit. There was a short time in my life when I answered the question “what’s your favorite animal?” with “tapir”. Imagine the looks a six-year-old gets when that’s their answer!
Hippos can be a lot of fun to watch at zoos when they are active! Typically zoos will have multiple hippos. Because of this, there might be times where they’re all relaxing together and there’s not much going on. But if you come on a day when they’re active, this can be a very popular viewing area!
So sit back, relax, and take a look at our Hippo list! Here are the zoos that comprise the list of the best hippo exhibits we have seen!
Best Hippo Exhibits
5. Cincinnati Zoo – Cincinnati became famous for Fiona, the premature-born baby hippo in 2016. Many across the globe have followed her story, along with her Mom Bibi and Dad Henry. Henry, who came from the Dickerson Park Zoo, passed away in 2018. Fiona and Bibi can be found splashing around most days. This popular area can get a bit crowded. Visitors, however, do a good job of allowing others to see at alternating viewpoints.
4. San Antonio Zoo – What I remember most about viewing the hippo at San Antonio was how absolutely enormous it looked! The reason for this is that while most zoos give you a half underwater/half above water viewpoint, this view was entirely underwater. This allows you to see the whole hippo! It was also kept (separately) next to the crocodile tank, making for an enjoyable viewing experience.
3. Dallas Zoo – This exhibit had the potential to be our top hippo attraction. It has a larger above ground area than anyone on this list, and it is great to see trainings that the keepers do with their hippos. However, the underwater viewing isn’t quite as spacious as other we’ve seen. The depth of the exhibit makes it difficult to see hippos at certain parts of the underwater areas. However, this is a great space for the hippos.
2. Toledo Zoo – The Toledo Zoo made an entire area for the hippos. This is branded nicely and allows enough space (and seating) to accommodate a large amount of people. In this section, you can easily see the hippos from multiple angles, which is great in case the hippos are on the move, or stationary in the corner. The Tembo Trail also includes an elephant viewing area.
1.St. Louis Zoo – St. Louis is number one on our hippo list because of the wide viewing area and the large number of hippos they have. This area in the River’s Edge portion of the zoo, can be VERY crowded in the afternoon. We recommended going early. It’s a longer trail, connected to the elephant enclosure, as well as includes stops along the way for cheetahs, rhinos, and hyenas. What gives this zoo the edge in hippo viewing is the ability to see the hippos from all angles, whether they are moving in the water, or lounging on the land.
Honorable Mention:
Milwaukee Zoo – their current hippo exhibit is small, with only an above ground viewing area. They will be renovating their former space dedicated to elephants to enhance this area in the coming years and allow for underwater viewing!
Thank you for reading our list of best hippo exhibits. The Simmons Hippo Outpost at the Dallas Zoo was listed as a top 10 exhibit in the 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards. To see the full top ten list, click here.
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