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Hippopotamus opening its mouth wide in the Chobe River, Botswana
Photograph by Michał Sitek © 2013 - 2026 | KETIS Society. All rights reserved.
BOTSWANA

Aaaaaa, is this wide enough?

Chobe Riverfront, Chobe National Park, Botswana · Botswana

A hippo opens its enormous jaws on the Chobe River in Botswana and turns a wildlife encounter into an unexpected dental examination.

While photographing wildlife along the Chobe River, I suddenly found myself conducting what looked like the most serious dental examination in Botswana.

The hippo opened its jaws impossibly wide, revealing an impressive collection of teeth. It may look like an enormous yawn, but for a hippo, this gesture can also be a warning or display of dominance.

I took the photograph from a respectful distance and reached my professional conclusion:

Yes, it was definitely wide enough. No follow-up appointment required.
Date
2026-01-01
african wildlifeanimal behaviouranimal portraitbotswanaBotswana wildlifeChobe National ParkChobe Rivercommon hippopotamushippo mouthhippo portraithippo teethhippopotamusHippopotamus amphibiusMichał Sitekriver safarisafari photographywild animalswildlife encounterwildlife photographyyawning hippo