Giant three-ton hippo enjoys a dip in a Botswana family’s 6ft deep swimming pool

A homeowner was stunned to discover a three-ton hippo in his swimming pool on New Year’s Eve.

The giant visitor was discovered by a sho.cked night watch around 3:30 a.m in Maun, Botswana.

Incredibly, the giant mammal – one of Africa’s largest animals – decided to see in 2020 with its very own pool party until leaving.

Brent Reed, director of Letaka Safaris, where the male hippo was visiting, said the night watchman was surprised to see the unusual hippo lounging in the six-meter-deep pool.

In these incredible photos, Brent’s youngest son Troy, 11, and friend Kyle Steyn, 15, can be seen looking at the wild hippo in the pool with complete comfort at ease with their presence.

Brent said: ‘I guess you could say it was a hippo new year.

“We didn’t think it could get out, but it did, and we woke up at 2 a.m for the hippo to graze outside our bedroom.”

Brent’s family company, Letaka Safaris, organizes tented excursions to the world-famous Okavango Delta and northern Botswana.

The region has experienced an unusually hot, dry summer this year, he said.

He said: “It was a big male and has had a dr.o.ught for quite much the whole year.

“The Thamalakane River has dried up, so our pool was probably the most attractive place for him to stay as our house is next to a dry river bed.”

“There’s always danger with hippos, especially when cornered, but this one didn’t show any signs of aggression.”

Brent said that despite enjoying the house’s unusual visitor, the cleaning operation had removed more than 100kg of d.u.ng from a pristine swimming pool.

Hippos are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa, with massive jaws capable of crushing crocodiles.

Despite their size, they can reach speeds of nearly 20 km/h on land, and they are very comfortable in the water, where they will charge boats and people if they feel th.rea.tened.