If you’ve ever been to Africa, you’ve probably seen the sausage trees (Kigelia pinnata). These trees, which you can see in the video below, bear dozens of large, fleshy “sausage fruits.” As you can see at right, the sausage fruits are actually pretty large. They’re a favorite snack among hippos, especially in the dry month of October when there’s little else to eat.
When you gaze up in uncomfortable wonder at the big, weird, bulbous fruits, it’s hard to imagine what they look like on the inside. Are you ready to find out? Then watch the video below, wherein my Sanctuary Retreats guide John cuts one open for us to see. It’s surprisingly not that easy to get into (I had assumed they were mushy). Hippo teeth may not be made for bone-crushing like a lion’s, but their jaws are strong.
Don’t mind the man with the enormous rifle; if you’re on an Abercrombie & Kent game drive and decide to get out of your safari vehicle and explore on foot, he comes standard. We are told he’s never had to use the rifle to protect visitors, but having him there makes you feel a bit safer when you see lions across the plain.
[Photo and video by Annie Scott.]
This trip was sponsored by Abercrombie & Kent and Sanctuary Retreats, but the ideas and opinions expressed in this article are 100% my own.