Hippos Walk Through Town in South Africa (Apparently It’s Normal)

By Bethanie H

Published

02/25/2025

A man recorded three hippos walking through a town in South Africa, and his video went viral on social media. Lloyd Von Plaster shared the footage on TikTok, among other platforms, earlier this month, and many people wondered what it’d be like to have hippos wander down the street like it was normal. Except, apparently it is normal . . . at least according to the comments section.

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Von Plaster took the video in St. Lucia, a settlement in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The small town is near a game reserve and a wetland park, and, apparently, these animals pass through the town frequently. They even get their own security escort.

“I live in St Lucia,” wrote one person commenting on the video reshared by ABC News. “They pass through every night on their way to grazing in the towns green areas. They are a common and loved sight. Security vehicle follows them to ensure their safety and that of tourists. There are signs on the route and every accommodation unit and restaurant warms people. They have become a tourist attraction. In the early morning they return to the estuary where they spend the day.”

Watch some beloved hippos walk the streets of St. Lucia in South Africa:

@lloydvonplaster
Hippopotamus walking the streets of the stlucia #f #fyp #hippopotamus #travelblogger #wildlifephotography #wildlife #wildlifeoftiktok #wildlifeonearth #wild #stlucia #creatorsearchinsights

♬ original sound – timelessfishingsa 🇿🇦🇲🇦

Here’s a second video of the hippos in this town:

@lloydvonplaster
Hippopotamus walking the streets of stlucia #fyp #f #travelblogger #wildlifephotography #wildlife #wildlifeoftiktok #wildlifeonearth #wild #africa #creatorsearchinsights
♬ original sound – timelessfishingsa 🇿🇦🇲🇦