Crocodile feeds alongside boma

While sitting having dinner with our guests in the boma (outside dinning area). I heard the sound of a shearing branch, near to the edge of the water.

We quickly called the night watchman closer so that we could use the beam from the spotlight which he had on him. We all moved a little closer for a further inspection as to what the noise could be. Thinking that it may be a Hippo we scanned the reed beds. There was nothing that we could see and we all returned to our meal when all was quiet and well.

All of a sudden, just a metre and a half to the side of me, I heard the noise maker. With our torches we saw a two and a half meter Nile Crocodile! We were all very surprised because since the opening of the lodge we have not seen a crocodile out of the water near to the camp. Obviously it had to be interested in something which we were not aware of near to the boma. Once we started to scan around we spotted a dead Vervet Monkey, a few centimetres away from the crocodile's head. It had no doubt tracked it down because of the smell and now was obviously looking to eat it.

After watching for a while we decided to leave the "croc" to his own meal we returned to ours. Once everybody was safely tucked away in bed the crocodile took his victim into the water to feed at leisure.

Boyce Kaore

Posted: Sandibe by CC Africa, Date: 21 November 2006