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Ways to Experience Hippo Jessica
Reviews (541)
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Reviewed 26 June 2012

Hippos are wild animals, very territorial and see almost every other predator as a threat so they tend, if necessary, to be very aggressive and are one of the most dangerous wild animals, with a very effective bite can get as heavy as 2,5ton so forget if you ever want to cuddle one. But no Jessica. She is uniquely the most calm and loving hippo that you can interact with. She listens to her adoptive human parents and also replies to them like a house dog does, they are very intelligent animals, even more that elephants and are wrongly famous for being the animal that kills more people than any other, which there are no facts that document or support this accusation any more than elephants or lions do. It's just a rumor that have grown to common believe. Anyway, don't get close to one, as don't get close to any lions or elephants or any other animal in the wild.

She is world famous and has been a star in numerous documentaries from lots of different countries who try to understand this unique relation Jessica has with humans. You get the chance to feed her, give her some tea and even rub your feet on her back, she loves it, just like a dog or a cat loves getting pet. Unique amazing experience, the closest you'll ever get to a hippo.

And to add even more to that experience, you get to meet Richie, a young hippo that was also found in front of their house on the last floods, and if not saved by these two people, he'd most definitely been eaten by the crocodiles that infest the blyde river. Richie lives and gets along just fine with all other dogs that are part of this house, which is truly amazing to see how different animal species interact with each other if getting used to in young ages.

These two hippos are part of the human family, loved and cared like their own but they are half wild, half used to humans, so they are not properly pets nor can one be 100% that they won't turn their wild side all of a sudden, as you can't also with your own dog. I see some really stupid reviews here but believe me, if you love animals, this is one of the most unique and amazing experiences you'll ever have.

Date of experience: June 2012
3  Thank NunoCaldeiraOliveira
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 3 June 2012

I felt it was a good example of a well trained animal that performed its duty.

Date of experience: May 2012
2  Thank Dudley P
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 14 May 2012

I love hippos and when I heard about Jessica, we went there straight away. It was a great experience to be up close and personla to a tamed hippo. We fed her and gave her som tea to drink. what a great experience.

Date of experience: April 2012
3  Thank Kati G
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 21 April 2012

Hippo Jessica is world famous and was in the television for almost one hundred times!
We now were in South Africa three times the last 18 months. A visit of hippo Jessica was ALWAYS part of our holidays - this in combination with a visit to the Upside Down restaurant nearby and at the Mholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is a perfect day in this area!
Yessica is a cute teenager, but has a 'weight issue' (more than one ton). The tendence is clear, she will reach soon the two tons! Touching such a huge animal is an unique experience, you should give it a try!
This year, Jessica has got a little brother. We had the unique option to touch a little hippo of 45 kilograms - it liked me and slept on my legs for almost a half hour! One reason more to come again soon...

Date of experience: March 2012
5  Thank KurtMA
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 2 September 2024 via mobile
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Date of experience: September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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