Orango's Marine Hippos: The World's Only Salt-Water Hippopotami
Orango Island in the Bijagós harbours the world's only confirmed population of marine hippos — hippopotami that swim in salt water, feed on sea vegetation, and have adapted to tidal rhythms
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Marine Hippo Observation
The ranger station in Orango National Park organizes dawn boat trips to observe the marine hippos — groups of 5-10 animals that emerge from the mangrove channels at low tide
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Salt-Water Adaptation Research
Scientists have been studying these hippos since the 1990s - their physiological adaptations to salt water, different diets and behavioral patterns still exist
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Orango Village Community
The Bijagó community on Orango has coexisted with the marine hippos for generations — the animals are considered sacred and protected by taboos that precede all conservation laws
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Orango Mangrove Kayaking
The mangrove channels of Orango can be navigated by sea kayak — the tidal system exposes sandbars at low tide where hippos rest alongside green sea turtles basking in the sun
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Night Turtle Nesting Watch
Orango's beaches are important nesting grounds for turtles — night hikes with Bijagó guides encounter green turtles digging out their nests in the sand under a star-filled sky
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Bijagó Sacred Forest Ceremony
The sacred forest on Orango is off-limits except during ceremonies - Bijagó's spiritual leaders perform rites to the nature spirits who protect the island's extraordinary wildlife