Hippo Haven is now open! | Adventure Aquarium

There’s a new addition to Adventure Aquarium!  Or should I say revitalized?  Hippo Haven re-opened it’s doors in May and features two hippos named Button and Genny!  The entrance is just off of the food court which means it was our first stop and we were just in time for a feeding.  The area was packed but was set up in a way that allowed many people to be there to witness the show while all having a good view of it.  Button and Genny’s new habitat was created to give the feeling of an African river thanks to amazing lighting, music, and a nice and clear 60,000 gallon pool.

I took my oldest up the stairs to the second level while my husband stayed on the bottom level with our youngest.  The trainer fed Button and Genny from outside of their tank as a safety precaution. This new facility allows visitors to see Button and Genny from above and below the water, giving us a truly unique experience.  While we watched our new friends eat, we learned many fun facts about hippos:

• Behind elephants and the White Rhino, hippos are the third-largest land mammal.
• Hippos can run up to 19 mph on land!
• The word hippopotamus is derived from the ancient Greek word for “river horse.”
• Adventure Aquarium’s hippos, Button and Genny, consume 70,000 calories per day. That’s nearly 40 pounds of food, or 115 Philly Cheesteaks!
• At 13 and 17, Button and Genny are teenagers! Hippos can live in captivity up to 60 years old.
• Hippos are able to sleep underwater, instinctively rising to breathe every few minutes.

After a little while, we moved back down the stairs and around the corner to see Button and Genny swimming under water.  They seemed to like seeing us through the glass as much as we like seeing them.  My boys had their faces pressed to the surface when they swam by.  It was absolutely amazing!  And Adventure Aquarium is the only aquarium in the world with hippos on exhibit, so this should not be missed!

If you missed our visit on Twitter or Instagram, here are some pictures below!

We’re incredibly happy to be giving away a family 4-pack of tickets to experience Hippo Haven for yourself!  Enter below and good luck!

About Adventure Aquarium: There are always more new things to see and do at Adventure Aquarium, minutes from downtown Philadelphia on the Delaware River waterfront. Visitors can get up close and personal with sharks and stingrays they can touch. They can also explore one-of-a-kind exhibits, including hippos, penguins and a shark tunnel.  Adventure Aquarium opened in 2005 and strives to offer world-class, learning experiences and moments of magic for their guests. Featuring more than 8,500 aquatic species throughout two million gallons of water, it’s the only aquarium in the world to exhibit hippos and is also home to the largest collection of sharks on the East Coast – including a Great Hammerhead Shark.  Adventure Aquarium is an accredited member of the American Zoological and Aquarium Association, holding the Aquarium to the absolute highest standards in animal care and exhibition. Adventure Aquarium is open 365 days a year, from10:00 am to 5:00 pm.  For more information, call 856.365.3300 or learn more at http://www.adventureaquarium.com. Follow Adventure Aquarium on Twitter @adventureaqua and on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/adventureaquarium. 

Nicole K.

  We were provided tickets to Adventure Aquarium to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% my own.