The water is still and silent as your boat drifts into a shaded inlet. An African Fish Eagle calls, distant. And then you see it. Or do you? That still form shaped like a log, motionless on the bank. The sun catches a glint of an eye, and you realise…you’re being watched.
Lake Jozini is home to a healthy population of Nile crocodiles, some of the most fascinating residents on our reserve, and this is why…
Crocodiles pre-date the dinosaurs. They’ve been on Earth for more than 200 million years and these ancient survivors (how did they survive whatever it was that killed the dinosaur?*) have changed very little because evolution got them right the first time. Their armoured bodies, stealthy movement and incredible power make them the top predators in their ecosystem.
At Lake Jozini, they bask on the banks, patrol the reeds and lie just beneath the water’s surface, barely visible except for the tips of their eyes and nostrils. But don’t be fooled. Their stillness belies their speed – these ambush predators can strike at a speed of up to 35 kilometres per hour on water and 14 kilometres per hour on land1. In fact, the Nile crocodile is the fastest of the species.
Which means you should run because…this crocodile basking lazily on the banks of the river has a bite that can deliver a crushing force of more than 3,000 pounds per square inch. Once they have hold of something, it’s not getting away. Yet, unlike the dramatic scenes we often see in wildlife documentaries, crocodiles are surprisingly patient. They can wait for hours, even days or months, in their favourite spot, watching and waiting for the right moment. In fact, crocodiles can go without food for months at a time and, when they do eat, they can consume up to half of their body weight in one meal.
These are also not gourmet dinner guests. Crocodiles will eat anything – fish, birds, antelope and even carrion. Crocs will take what they can get. At Royal Jozini their non-fussy eating attitude keeps the balance of the lake’s ecosystem as they keep fish and other species populations in check.
Part of our background tapestry and one of the legitimate wonders of the world, our crocodiles are also remarkable parents. While not exactly doting mothers, female crocs do lay their eggs in carefully selected sandy nests and guard them fiercely. Interestingly, the temperature of the nest will determine the gender of the hatchlings. Cooler waters produce females while warmer ones produce males in one of nature’s really intriguing balancing acts. Once a baby hatches, she may even carry it to the water in her jaws (gently, this time).
They are also surprisingly social animals. Crocs gather in groups known as ‘basks’ or they float together in the water forming ‘congregations’. That said, crocodiles aren’t cuddly or playful and they won’t blink slowly at you from behind a bush or nuzzle your 4×4. They aren’t, even as babies, the kind of critter you want to pick up and stroke. But they are quite possibly one of the planet’s most remarkable reptiles and they need to be protected.
Unfortunately, crocodiles are as threatened by habitat loss, hunting and pollution as many other species on Earth and many crocodile species are listed as endangered or vulnerable by conservation organisations. Imagine if they survived for millions of years and through catastrophic events only to be destroyed by humans?
Not all humans though, some cultures revere the crocodile as a sacred animal and believe it possesses spiritual powers. It is the sacred animal of the Bakoena clan of the Basotho people in Lesotho and features on their national coat of arms; and in ancient Egypt, the crocodile was associated with the god Sobek who was associated with military prowess and the power of the pharaoh.
It is, for us, one of the most remarkable sightings at Lake Jozini, and a species we work hard to protect.
*Crocodiles survived the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event because they are incredibly adaptable. Their ability to go without food for long periods of time and the fact they could eat anything meant they were able to endure the event and the climate change that followed.
Want to know more?
Read more about our local residents:
- Whatever you do, don’t run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide
- Guide to Reptiles of Southern Africa
- Eyelids of Morning: The Mingled Destinies of Crocodiles and Men
At Lake Jozini, our crocs can be seen on the lake’s western banks, near a place we called “Croc Island”. This shallowish waterway with land islands becomes grasslands in the drier seasons or during the drought, but is completely underwater during the rainy season or when the area is flooded. You can best see the island when the lake is around 80% full.
