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Tourists in the holiday town of Ballito near Durban in South Africa were treated to a bizarre sight recently when a hippopotamus turned up in the surf.

The animal, which was thought to have strayed from his natural freshwater habitat in Richards Bay, even came onto the beach for a while before returning to the sea.

Lionel van Schoor of KwaZulu-Natal conservation group KZN Wildlife said they had tracked the animal as it moved south over the past two months.

He explained that the hippo had been foraging for food on beaches and swimming in the sea, but warned that it could be on a dangerous path if it does not stop travelling south.

Hippos are considered one of Africa's most dangerous animals and the wayward creature is becoming more likely to encounter humans as it approaches Durban, where food will also be in short supply.

Mr Van Schoor said that darting the animal was not an option as hippos are known to react badly to tranquilisers, meaning that its best hope is to turn north and return to its natural environment.

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