Nile Crocodile
✓ Reviewed by Nhongo Safaris Field Guide - Gift · Updated 4 November 2026
Nile Crocodile at a glance
- Length3.5–5 m (large males can exceed 5 m)
- Weight225–750 kg
- Lifespan50–70 years in the wild
- DietFish, plus zebra, wildebeest, impala and birds
- NestingFemale lays 25–80 eggs in a sand nest, hatching after about 90 days
- ActiveBasks by day and hunts mostly at dusk and night
- HabitatRivers, dams and wetlands
- Conservation statusLeast Concern (IUCN Red List)
Track and paw print
Roughly 10–25 cm long, depending on the animal's size. The front foot has five toes and the back foot has four webbed toes, usually with a tail-drag line between the prints.
Lesser-known facts
A mother crocodile guards her nest for about three months. When the hatchlings call from inside their eggs, she digs them out and carries them in her mouth, gently, down to the water.
The temperature of the nest decides whether the eggs become males or females. Warm nests produce mostly males, so a single sunny or shady spot can change a whole clutch.
Crocodiles bask with their mouths wide open to cool down, and they swallow stones that may help with balance and digestion. They lie almost motionless for hours, then strike from the water in a split second.
Where to spot it in Kruger
Scan sandbanks and rocky shores along the Olifants, Letaba and Sabie rivers, and the edges of dams. Mid-morning, when they bask in the sun with their mouths open, is the best time.
Scan sandbanks and rocks at the water's edge, and look closely at floating "logs" and a pair of eyes at the surface. Both can be crocodiles.
Photo gallery
Questions and answers
Where is the best place to see Nile crocodiles in Kruger?
Look for sandbanks and rocky shores along the Olifants, Letaba and Sabie rivers, and the edges of dams. Mid-morning, when they bask in the sun, is the best time.
How big do Nile crocodiles get?
Most adults are 3.5 to 5 m long and weigh 225 to 750 kg. Large males can grow even bigger. The Nile crocodile is Africa's largest crocodile.
Why do crocodiles lie with their mouths open?
It helps them cool down. Crocodiles bask in the sun to warm up, and opening their mouths lets heat escape, a little like panting.
What do crocodiles eat in Kruger?
Mostly fish. Larger crocodiles also ambush animals that come to drink, such as impala, zebra and wildebeest. They wait almost motionless in the water, then strike in a split second.
Are crocodiles dangerous to visitors?
Yes. Nile crocodiles are among Africa's most dangerous predators. Never go near the water's edge, never swim, and follow the signs and your guide's instructions.
Best time to see the Nile Crocodile
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Best months: May–Sep
In the cool dry winter months crocodiles bask on sandbanks in the morning sun to warm up, and the falling rivers leave them gathered in the remaining pools.
About the Nile Crocodile
The Nile crocodile is the largest crocodile in Africa and one of the oldest predators on Earth, a species that has barely changed in millions of years. Armoured, powerful and patient, it lives in the rivers, dams and wetlands of the Kruger National Park, with its eyes and nostrils on top of its head so it can watch from beneath the surface.
Crocodiles are ambush hunters. They lie almost motionless, sometimes for hours, then strike in a split second at fish or at animals that come to drink. Mothers are surprisingly caring. A female guards her nest of eggs in the sand for about three months, and when the hatchlings call from inside their eggs, she digs them out and carries them down to the water in her mouth.
Crocodiles are easiest to see in the cooler hours of the morning, when they bask on sandbanks with their mouths wide open. On a guided drive, your field guide knows the safe viewpoints beside rivers and dams, so you can watch these ancient animals up close, from a safe distance.
See the Nile Crocodile for real
Join one of our guided Kruger safaris and let our field guides find it for you.
Explore Kruger safari packagesRead the full story →Meet the Nile Crocodile in our 3D Wildlife World
Explore our interactive map of the Kruger National Park, with the animals and the safari jeep.