Points

15

per confirmed sighting

ReptileConservation status: VulnerableCommon to spot
reptiles • Crocodylidae

Nile Crocodile.

N

Crocodylus niloticus

An ambush predator of Southern African rivers, largely unchanged for millions of years.

Category

reptiles

Family

Crocodylidae

Size

3.5–5 m, up to 750 kg

Points

15 pts

Log a sighting

A closer look

Field notes for spotting, identifying and understanding nile crocodile in its natural range.

Overview

An ambush predator of Southern African rivers, largely unchanged for millions of years.

How to identify it

Armoured olive-grey body, broad snout, fourth tooth visible when jaws are closed.

Habitat

Swamps, lakes, rivers, river mouths and coastal estuaries; in South Africa it occupies major freshwater systems and some estuarine habitats.

Diet

Fish, antelope, birds

Behaviour

—

When to look

No single diel label is applied across its range. Individuals alternate aquatic activity with terrestrial resting/basking; nesting is strongly seasonal and occurs in the dry season in much of its range.

Where to see it

South Africa flagSouth AfricaNamibia flagNamibiaBotswana flagBotswanaZimbabwe flagZimbabweZambia flagZambiaMozambique flagMozambiqueEswatini flagEswatiniMalawi flagMalawiAngola flagAngola
  • Kruger National ParkZA
  • Okavango DeltaBW
  • South Luangwa National ParkZM
  • Liwonde National ParkMW

Safety and etiquette

Never stand at the water's edge in crocodile country, especially at dawn and dusk.

Verification and sources

1500 verified species across ten Southern African countries. Spotted an error? Tell us through community guidelines.