Hippos can run at around 19–28 miles per hour (about 30–45 km/h) on land, but only for short bursts.

Quick Scoop: How fast do hippos run?

Despite their bulky bodies, hippos are surprisingly fast sprinters on land.

Most sources put their speed at roughly:

  • 19 mph (30 km/h) as a typical top speed.
  • Up to about 25–28 mph (40–45 km/h) in short bursts, depending on the individual and terrain.

They can only maintain this speed for a short distance (on the order of a few hundred meters) before tiring, but that is more than enough to catch a human at close range.

On land vs. in water

  • On land: Up to about 19–28 mph (30–45 km/h).
  • In water: They can move at roughly 10–12 mph (around 16–19 km/h), often by “running” or bounding along the riverbed rather than truly swimming.

Because of this combination of speed and size, hippos are considered among the most dangerous large animals in Africa, and people who live near them treat them with serious caution.

Simple HTML table of speeds

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Environment</th>
      <th>Approx. speed (mph)</th>
      <th>Approx. speed (km/h)</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Land (typical top speed)</td>
      <td>~19 mph</td>
      <td>~30 km/h</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Land (upper estimates)</td>
      <td>Up to ~25–28 mph</td>
      <td>Up to ~40–45 km/h</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>In water</td>
      <td>~10–12 mph</td>
      <td>~16–19 km/h</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.