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Their primary diet is fish, but occasionally they will grab at animals that wander too close to their watery lairs. A large croc – up to four metres – makes a kill every three weeks or so. Crocodiles are ancient animals, having evolved some 60 million years ago.
Despite their tiny brains, they are cunning, killing their prey mostly by drowning. They then tear off, and swallow, chunks of flesh. Male crocodiles are more territorial than females – they remain in one place while female crocs migrate to find males to mate with. A crocodile can remain under water for about 15 minutes at a time. The killer snakes of KrugerThere are 54 species of snakes found in Kruger, only nine of which are deadly poisonous. Although the black mamba is often portrayed as the most dangerous snake in Africa, 90% of bites to humans are actually by the Mozambique spitting cobra and the puff adder.
The largest African snake – the python – is fairly common, but difficult to see. It can grow up to five metres in length and kills its prey by wrapping its body around the victim and crushing it. It’s very rare to come across snakes in Kruger, even during the guided wilderness walks.
Snakes tend to shy away from humans and only attack if they’re caught by surprise. Nonetheless, one should be cautious at camps and lookout points. If you come across a snake in a camp, please alert the camp staff immediately.
Other notable reptiles in Kruger are two species of monitor lizards (leguaans), the water and the rock monitors. The water leguaan can be up to two metres long and is found at permanent water sources in Kruger. It feeds mainly on fish, crabs, mussels, small animals and birds. Rock monitors can be found quite far from water in rocky outcrops and crevices. They grow up to 1,5m and feed on small mammals, birds, eggs, other reptiles and insects.
 African Rock Python (Python sebae)- Characteristics
- Largest snake in Africa – up to 5m long; crushes its prey to death; generally nocturnal but seen during the day
- Prey
- Dassies, hares, cane rats, birds; has been known to take impala and young antelope and warthogs
- Habitat
- Mixed woodlands near water; very good tree climbers
 Egyptian Cobra (Naja haje)- Characteristics
- Largest cobra, approx 1,5m long; when disturbed it rears up and displays a broad hood; very fast moving striker with toxic venom
- Prey
- Small mammals, birds and their eggs, frogs
- Habitat
- Mixed woodlands near water
 Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis)- Characteristics
- One of the most poisonous snakes in Africa; about 2m long; very fast strikers and can slither at speeds of up to 15km/h
- Prey
- Birds, rodents, dassies and other small animals
- Habitat
- Dry lowveld bush; lives in abandoned termite hills, animal holes and among rocks; loves basking in the sun
 Puff Adder (Bitis arietans)- Characteristics
- Responsible for more human bites than all other African snakes combined – most attacks are because it is trodden on; front fangs make venom delivery extremely effective; sluggish, fat snake about 1,5m long
- Prey
- Rodents, birds, other snakes; a puff adder has once been recorded killing a tortoise
- Habitat
- Very fond of lying in the sun; found in all Kruger habitats – one of the most widely distributed snakes in Africa
 Mozambique Spitting Cobra (Naja mossambica peters)- Characteristics
- One of the most poisonous snakes in Africa; rears up two-thirds of its body length when disturbed, displays hood and spits venom with amazing accuracy (they can spit venom into the eyes of an aggressor three metres away);average length approximately 1m
- Prey
- Birds’ eggs, small mammals and reptiles
- Habitat
- Mixed savanna woodland; favours hollow trees and abandoned burrows near water
 Twig Snake (Thelotornis capensis)- Characteristics
- Slender, fast-moving tree snake about 1,3m long; can stay motionless for long periods of time; well camouflaged and very poisonous
- Prey
- Birds and their nestlings and eggs
- Habitat
- Mixed woodland near water
 Boomslang (Dispholidus typus)- Characteristics
- Highly venomous, greenish tree snake, about 1,5m long
- Prey
- Birds’ eggs, small mammals and reptiles
- Habitat
- Thick woodlands near water
Illustration: Chris Snaddon |
