Generally, they avoid straying far from the water. In the dry season, however, some hippos have been known to walk up to six miles [10 km] in search of food.
Lielākoties nīlzirgi neaizklīst nekur tālu no ūdenskrātuves, tomēr sausajā gadalaikā tie barības meklējumos reizēm nostaigā ap desmit kilometru.