Meet Moto Moto: The Fiery Hippo with a Softer Side

Posted in: The Wild Side

Who Is Moto Moto?

If you’ve spent any time watching the waterhole at The Hide, chances are you’ve come across Moto Moto, the resident hippo who has made quite a name for himself. With a fiery personality, a talent for entertaining an audience and a waterhole he considers entirely his own, he’s certainly not your average hippo!

But behind his territorial antics lies a story that has captured the hearts of the guides at The Hide, including a surprising encounter that revealed a gentler side to this famous resident. We caught up with The Hide’s Camp Manager, Pranay, to hear their account of Moto Moto’s story.

A Journey to Find Home

Moto Moto’s story began at Ngwehla Pan, around 31 kilometres southwest of The Hide. There, he was repeatedly bullied by the dominant male hippo, eventually losing a serious fight that left him with two distinctive scars across his shoulders.

After leaving Ngwehla, he travelled through a few other pans before making his way into the area around The Hide. In April 2023, he discovered the camp’s waterhole, and it seems he knew a good thing when he found it.

He has called it home ever since.

His name, meaning “fire-fire” in Shona, was given to him by one of the camp’s waiters, Zealous. It’s a fitting name for a hippo who takes his territory very seriously.

Elephants arriving for a drink? They might be chased away. Lions approaching the water? Moto Moto has been known to send them packing, too. Even buffalo have reason to think twice before entering his domain.

As far as Moto Moto is concerned, this is his waterhole, and everyone else is simply a visitor.

A Fiery Personality and an Unexpected Act of Kindness

For all his territorial behaviour, Moto Moto has shown the guides and Africam viewers that there may be more to him than meets the eye.

One afternoon, a pack of African wild dogs chased an impala towards the waterhole. With nowhere else to turn, the frightened impala leapt into the water in a desperate attempt to escape. Moto Moto immediately noticed the commotion and swam towards the impala. But instead of attacking it, something quite remarkable happened. He gently guided the impala towards the opposite side of the pan, away from the pursuing wild dogs. The impala remained safely there until the dogs eventually moved on.

It’s an extraordinary encounter, and one that offers a different perspective on a hippo better known for chasing other animals away from his waterhole.

Was Moto Moto deliberately helping the impala, or was he simply responding to an unwelcome disturbance in his territory? We may never know. But for the guides who witnessed it, it was a moment worth remembering.

Perhaps the fiery hippo has a softer side after all.

The Waterhole’s Very Own Entertainer

Of course, Moto Moto wouldn’t be Moto Moto without his daily dose of drama.

He loves rolling around in the water, throwing his feet into the air and splashing about as though the entire waterhole were his private swimming pool. And when the surrounding bush gets noisy, he’s often ready to join in.

Lions roaring in the distance? Moto Moto may respond with one of his unmistakable grunts. Elephants trumpeting? He might have something to say about that, too. It can sometimes seem as though he believes he’s responsible for answering every announcement in the neighbourhood.

And when he’s not busy making himself heard, he’s perfectly happy to graze near the camp boundary, seemingly unfazed by the guests watching from nearby. Cameras come out, phones are raised, and excited whispers ripple through the crowd. Moto Moto, meanwhile, carries on eating as though nothing is happening. He certainly doesn’t seem to mind an audience!

A Familiar Face at The Hide

Over time, Moto Moto has become much more than just another animal at the waterhole. For the guides and Africam viewers, he’s a familiar character whose moods and routines have become part of daily life at the camp.

During winter, he often stays in the water until around midday, emerging as guests finish lunch. He may then graze, roll about and bask on the sandy banks in the afternoon sun before returning to the waterhole. Around 4pm, he might make another appearance. In summer, he tends to wait until sunset before leaving the water to graze, avoiding the worst of the heat.

His two shoulder scars remain a reminder of the journey that brought him here. They also attract visits from red-billed and yellow-billed oxpeckers, which can often be seen feeding around the old wounds.

Even his brief encounter with another male hippo, Chando, became part of his story. Chando arrived in 2024 and stayed for around three weeks. The two were often seen sparring, with the guides observing that Moto Moto was usually the one to start the arguments. Eventually, Chando disappeared, leaving Moto Moto to continue ruling his favourite waterhole.

And so, the familiar routine continues: guarding his territory, answering distant roars and occasionally reminding a passing elephant who’s boss.

Watch Moto Moto Live on Africam

There’s something special about getting to know a wild animal over time. It’s not just about catching a dramatic sighting, but about recognising familiar behaviours, noticing the little things and discovering the personality behind the animal.

Moto Moto has become part of the fabric of life at The Hide, and thanks to Africam’s live camera, you can get to know him from wherever you are.

You might catch him peacefully grazing, rolling around in the water or responding to a lion’s distant roar. You might even witness him standing his ground against one of the other animals visiting his waterhole.

And if you’re lucky, you may catch a quieter moment that reveals a side of him you weren’t expecting.

Keep an eye on The Hide’s livestream and join us in following the daily adventures of Moto Moto – a hippo with plenty of fire, a personality all his own and, perhaps, a softer side that makes him all the more fascinating.