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  • Saltwater Crocodile

  • Saltwater Crocodile

  • Saltwater Crocodile

Crocodiles

Crocodiles are extraordinary creatures, having survived since the age of dinosaurs with very few adaptations. Australia is home to only two species of crocodile, but can boast having the largest; the Saltwater Crocodile.  Although ‘salties’ can live in the sea, they prefer estuaries and freshwater swamps across northern Australia and will often venture inland during the breeding season. The Saltwater Crocodile lays clutches of 30-70 eggs with the sex of  the hatchlings dependent on the temperature at which the eggs are incubated. Kakadu & Arnhem Land and the Daintree River north of Cairns, offers numerous boating opportunities to view Australia’s apex predator. Saltwater Crocodiles can also be sighted along the Mulgrave River south of Cairns.

The Freshwater Crocodile (also known as Johnstone’s Crocodile) lives in rivers, swamps and billabongs also in northern Australia, but is much smaller and generally harmless to humans. They typically lay their eggs around June in the dry season and can be seen congregating in large numbers around waterholes and billabongs. Once hatched, females protect their young from predators such as turtles, raptors, pythons, sea eagles and even large fish.

 

 

Search for tours including Crocodiles, using the seasonal viewing opportunities calendar further down the page or find out more at the tour links below:

Daintree & Cape Tribulation Tour Ultimate Nature

Daintree Exclusive

Three Day ‘Peek’ Kakadu & Arnhem Land

Six Day Lords Safaris, Davidson’s Arnhemland Safaris and Bamurru Plains

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Viewing opportunities that include crocodiles

Months
  • Frilled-neck Lizard

    March,April,May, Kakadu & Arnhem Land

    Kakadu & Arnhem Land - Autumn Sightings for Reptiles and Amphibians

    Crocodiles Saltwater Crocodile, Freshwater Crocodile
    Lizards

    Geckos: Rough Knob-tail Gecko, Yellow-snouted Gecko | Dragon Lizards: Frill-necked Lizard, Gilbert's Dragon, Northern Water Dragon, Two-lined Dragon | Goannas: Merten's Water Goanna, Sand Goanna, Yellow-spotted Goanna | Skinks: Fire-tailed Skink, Two-spined Rainbow Skink, Northern Blue-tongued Skink

    Turtles Freshwater Turtles: Flatback Turtle, Long-necked Turtle, Pig-nosed Turtle
    Snakes

    Pythons: Olive Python, Children Python, Oenpelli Python, Water Python, Black-headed Water Python, Carpet Python | Colubrids: Common Tree Snake, Northern Tree Snake, Golden Tree Snake, Brown Tree Snake, Keelback, Slaty-Grey Snake | Elapids: Mulga Snake, Coastal Taipan, Olive Whipsnake | File Snake: Arafura File Snake

    Frogs Tree Frogs: Green Tree Frog, Dahl's Aquatic Frog, Copland's Rock Frog, Roth's Tree Frog, Northern Dwarf Tree Frog, Green Tree Frog, Brown Tree Frog

    How to find these species

    Lords Sab Lord Guide Bio 01

    "Mertens’ Water Goannas have their young at this time and can be spotted along the billabongs and streams, where they forage for extended periods underwater, feeding on fishes, frogs and crustaceans. Yellow-spotted Goannas are found further inland across the Savanna woodlands, searching for reptile and bird eggs, invertebrates, lizards and birds.

    The beautiful Dahl’s Aquatic Frog, with their emerald stripes on the back, can be seen on the floodplains at the end of the wet season where they float during the day and bask on lily pads. The Northern Dwarf Tree Frog, Green Tree Frog and Brown Tree Frog can also be seen. Green Tree Snakes, Children Pythons, Banded Tree Snakes and Olive Pythons are more active along the billabongs and floodplains during this time, where we sometimes spot from the airboats, along with the region's most famous resident, the Saltwater Crocodile."

    Sab Lord, Tour Guide

    Suggested tour: Ultimate Luxury Safari Adventure

    Duration: 6 Days/5 Nights
    Type: Private Charter
    Departs: On request

    The World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park is one of the most pristine environments left on the planet and the combination of soil floodplains, paper bark swamps, savannah woodlands, monsoonal rainforests and river mangroves make this one of the world's great birdwatching sites, with over 280 species found across the region.

    Full Itinerary

    Tours in Kakadu & Arnhem Land related to Crocodiles

  • Northern Dwarf Tree Frog

    June,July,August, Kakadu & Arnhem Land

    Kakadu & Arnhem Land - Winter Sightings for Reptiles and Amphibians

    Crocodiles Saltwater Crocodile, Freshwater Crocodile
    Lizards

    Geckos: Rough Knob-tail Gecko, Yellow-snouted Gecko | Dragon Lizards: Frill-necked Lizard, Gilbert's Dragon, Northern Water Dragon, Two-lined Dragon | Goannas: Merten's Water Goanna, Sand Goanna, Yellow-spotted Goanna | Skinks: Fire-tailed Skink, Two-spined Rainbow Skink, Northern Blue-tongued Skink

    Turtles Freshwater Turtles: Flatback Turtle, Long-necked Turtle, Pig-nosed Turtle
    Snakes

    Pythons: Olive Python, Children Python, Oenpelli Python, Water Python, Black-headed Water Python, Carpet Python | Colubrids: Common Tree Snake, Northern Tree Snake, Golden Tree Snake, Brown Tree Snake, Keelback, Slaty-Grey Snake | Elapids: Mulga Snake, Coastal Taipan, Olive Whipsnake | File Snake: Arafura File Snake

    Frogs Tree Frogs: Green Tree Frog, Dahl's Aquatic Frog, Copland's Rock Frog, Roth's Tree Frog, Northern Dwarf Tree Frog, Green Tree Frog, Brown Tree Frog

    How to find these species

    Lords Sab Lord Guide Bio 01As waters begin to recede, Saltwater Crocodiles can be spotted in greater volumes, with small mammals and birds falling victim to ambush attacks along the waters edge, along with region’s most famous fish, the Barramundi. Freshwater Crocodiles are typically found further up the escarpments with females laying a clutch of 4-20 eggs in the sand in August. Unlike Saltwater Crocodiles the females do not guard the nest, however, they will return and excavate the nest when the eggs have hatched around November.

    Green Tree Snakes, Children Pythons, Banded Tree Snakes and Olive Pythons are active along the billabongs and floodplains until the end of June, when they become more lackadaisical due to increased heat and dry conditions. One of the most intriguing smaller lizards seen at this time is the Rough Knob-tailed Gecko, with their beautiful rich purple coloured eyes and spiny rosettas across their body a remarkable sight. The Desert Tree Frog, Rocket Frog, Tornier’s Frog, Roth’s Tree Frog, Northern Dwarf Tree Frog and Little Green Tree Frog are some of the more common of the 26 frog species found across the region.

    Sab Lord, Tour Guide

    Suggested tour: Ultimate Luxury Safari Adventure

    Duration: 6 Days/5 Nights
    Type: Private Charter
    Departs: On request

    The World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park is one of the most pristine environments left on the planet and the combination of soil floodplains, paper bark swamps, savannah woodlands, monsoonal rainforests and river mangroves make this one of the world's great birdwatching sites, with over 280 species found across the region.

    Full Itinerary

    Tours in Kakadu & Arnhem Land related to Crocodiles

  • Saltwater Crocodile

    September,October,November, Kakadu & Arnhem Land

    Kakadu & Arnhem Land - Spring Sightings for Reptiles and Amphibians

    Crocodiles Saltwater Crocodile, Freshwater Crocodile
    Lizards

    Geckos: Rough Knob-tail Gecko, Yellow-snouted Gecko | Dragon Lizards: Frill-necked Lizard, Gilbert's Dragon, Northern Water Dragon, Two-lined Dragon | Goannas: Merten's Water Goanna, Sand Goanna, Yellow-spotted Goanna | Skinks: Fire-tailed Skink, Two-spined Rainbow Skink, Northern Blue-tongued Skink

    Turtles Freshwater Turtles: Flatback Turtle, Long-necked Turtle, Pig-nosed Turtle
    Snakes

    Pythons: Olive Python, Children Python, Oenpelli Python, Water Python, Black-headed Water Python, Carpet Python | Colubrids: Common Tree Snake, Northern Tree Snake, Golden Tree Snake, Brown Tree Snake, Keelback, Slaty-Grey Snake | Elapids: Mulga Snake, Coastal Taipan, Olive Whipsnake | File Snake: Arafura File Snake

    Frogs Tree Frogs: Green Tree Frog, Dahl's Aquatic Frog, Copland's Rock Frog, Roth's Tree Frog, Northern Dwarf Tree Frog, Green Tree Frog, Brown Tree Frog

    How to find these species

    Lords Sab Lord Guide Bio 01The largest of all living reptiles is the Saltwater Crocodile. They are most active at this time due to males and females engaging in courtship. Females will lays eggs between November and March in a nest mound made up of mud and vegetation, typically laying from 30 to 70 eggs. The dry season is the best time to see these prehistoric creatures as their numbers concentrate in shrinking pockets of water. Freshwater Crocodiles or 'freshies’ prefer to stay clear of their Saltwater cousins at this time and inhabit areas above the escarpment in Kakadu.

    There are numerous lizards active including the alluring Fire-tailed Skink, with its bright-red tail a beautiful site against the ochre coloured rocks. Sand and Yellow-spotted Goannas, can be seen stalking through the woodlands, with some laying their eggs into the cathedral termite mounds to protect their eggs from the high temperatures. The Copland’s Rock Frog can be seen around the rock escarpments and is particularly active along the edges of creeks, with breeding commencing in October.

    Sab Lord, Tour Guide

    Suggested tour: Ultimate Luxury Safari Adventure

    Duration: 6 Days/5 Nights
    Type: Private Charter
    Departs: On request

    The World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park is one of the most pristine environments left on the planet and the combination of soil floodplains, paper bark swamps, savannah woodlands, monsoonal rainforests and river mangroves make this one of the world's great birdwatching sites, with over 280 species found across the region.

    Full Itinerary

    Tours in Kakadu & Arnhem Land related to Crocodiles