Located in the African Savanna, the world-renowned Hippoquarium® offers visitors face-to-face encounters with Nile hippos as they lope along underwater in their crystal-clear, 360,000-gallon pool, demonstrating exactly why these graceful giants came to be known as "river horses."

Photo by Christine Tate

Due to the spectacular clarity of the Hippoquarium® pool, Zoo visitors and researchers alike have been able to observe hippo behaviors never before seen by human eyes, such as the underwater birth of Puddles in 1987. This historic birth was also captured on film—another world's first! The Hippoquarium® is a must-see for Zoogoers who like their wildlife up close and personal!