Crocodile
Crocodile
Crocodiles are an apex predator and are a principal player in one of nature’s great dramas, river crossings by the great migration. Common throughout all of the safari countries, crocs can inhabit almost any water. In some areas they are bold and very visible, in other locations they are shy and a challenge to see.
There are five species of crocodile in Africa: Nile crocodile, West African crocodile, West African slender-snouted crocodile, and African dwarf crocodile. The Nile crocodile is the most common and, at 10-15 feet in length on average, it is the largest species in Africa, second only to the saltwater crocodile found in Australia.
Crocodile Videos
Best Places to See Crocodiles on Safari
The Mara River in both Kenya and Tanzania is the setting for the dramatic migration crossings where crocodile predatory action is most commonly seen. On the Mara River there are huge crocodiles that are easy to locate basking in the sun.
Tanzania’s Katavi National Park has huge densities of crocodiles — they are forced to congregate in great masses late in the dry season as water becomes scarce.
Zambia’s South Luangwa is another park full of highly visible crocodiles along the Luangwa River and its tributaries. Dry season conditions offer better visibility of the crocodiles as the water levels drop.