Two hippos are locked in an intense confrontation in the water, their massive mouths wide open as water splashes dramatically around them. The gripping scene captures the raw power and energy of these formidable creatures.
A lone hippo wanders across a dry, sandy landscape as a vibrant sunset paints the sky in shades of orange and red. Silhouetted trees stand against the setting sun, framing a scene of serene beauty.
A group of hippos partially submerged in water creates a serene scene. One playful hippo blows water from its nostrils, making a gentle splash, while others rest nearby, their heads and backs visible above the tranquil surface.

Hippo King

Nature & Wildlife·1 x 52 min·Completed

Unveil the hidden life of the Hippo King – battles, survival, and legacy in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley. A majestic journey beneath the water and stars.

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Genre
Nature & Wildlife
Duration
1 × 52 min
Definition
4K
Audio
5.1
Status
Completed
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Synopsis

A giant hippo bull – a king amongst the largest concentration of hippos on this planet – has an incredible story to tell. A story normally hidden from human eyes and almost always misunderstood – because his secret life happens beneath the water and under cover of darkness.  For the first time ever, we reveal the true character of one of the planet’s largest land mammals as we follow the life story of the ‘Hippo King’.

BECOMING A GIANT
Our story begins when the hippo king is just few weeks old; a tiny calf, surrounded by three-ton giants. His home, at the far end of Africa’s Great Rift valley, in Zambia’s Luangwa valley, is also home to the world’s largest gathering of hippos. It’s not the easiest place to grow up. The first weeks of life are the most dangerous; in water and on land, predators watch his every move while the colossal bodies of family members threaten to crush him. He is kept safe by his mother but it is his father, the pod’s dominant bull, who will teach the youngster what he needs to survive. He watches his father fight the biggest battles – and then practices his own skills with other calves. Hours of sparring will help prepare him for the many fights that are to come later in life…

LIVING WITH GIANTS
As a teenager, he is banished from his natal pod. Too young to become a king, he spends several years in different pods as a submissive male. Injuries and death threaten those that dare to stand up to the local dominant bulls.

Eventually he takes the risk, challenging the dominant male on his own territory. But the young male is not up to the task. He is beaten, injured and forced to leave.

In the dry season the Luangwa valley’s rivers shrink rapidly. Food is scarce. With almost no grass left, the young bull is close to starvation, forced to forage even in daytime. By now he is large and imposing. But a weak hippo of any size can become the target of hungry lions. Despite the dangers, this hippo endures, because he has discovered the valley’s little secret – the pendulous, nutrient rich fruits of the sausage tree. They will ensure his survival even during the worst droughts.

A GIANT KING
By the time the next dry season hits, the hippo has recovered from past deprivations. He’s now fully grown and strong enough to take on the leader of a pod. He has chosen his opponent wisely; an aging, battle-worn, dominant male. The pod leader has no choice but to accept the younger hippo’s challenge. The fight is brutal, but youth conquers all.

Today, the hippo who grew up in Rift Valley is in the prime of his life, a giant hippo king with power over a dozen cows and youngsters. Now, his calves watch the battles he fights to retain the title of Hippo King. And just like he once did, they spar together in preparation for their own battles. He knows what lies ahead of them: the beatings, the dangerous encounters and the months of starvation. He has been through it all and he knows, more than any hippo, what it takes to become a giant king in Zambia’s Luangwa valley.

State-of-the-art 4K resolution, high speed cameras and the latest military-rated high definition thermal technology, will immerse audiences in the unique, secret world of the ‘Hippo King’.

Team

Written and directed by Will and Lianne Steenkamp
Executive producers Andrea Gastgeb, Sabine Holzer
Production companies A Terra Mater Factual Studios / Skyland Productions / Into Nature Productions production in co-production with Doclights/NDR Naturfilm, The WNET Group in association with PBS and CPB

Awards & Recognitions

Cannes, France Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards Gold Dolphin (Category: Nature and Wildlife) 2022
New York, USA New York Festivals TV & Media Awards Gold World Medal (Category: Craft: Program: Best Camerawork) 2022
New York, USA New York Festivals TV & Media Awards WaterBear Award 2022
New York, USA New York Festivals TV & Media Awards Gold World Medal (Category: Documentary: Nature & Wildlife) 2022
WCSFP - World Congress of Science & Factual Producers Buzzies Awards Official Selection (Category: Best Natural History Long Format) 2022
Graz, Austria Mountainfilm International Filmfestival Graz Official Selection 2022
Jackson Hole, USA Jackson Wild Media Awards Finalist (Category: Innovation in Green Production) 2022
Namur, Belgium FINN - Festival International Nature Namur Official Selection 2022
Lihula, Estonia MAFF - Matsalu Nature Film Festival Official Selection 2022
Rotterdam, Netherlands WFFR - Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam Nomination (Category: Animal Behaviour Award) 2022
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