Least Concern Reptiles

Nile Crocodile

Crocodylus niloticus

Nile Crocodile is a large predator in African freshwater rivers and wetlands.

Scientific name	Crocodylus niloticus
Swahili name	Mamba Maji
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Reptilia
Order	Crocodilia
Family	Crocodylidae
Size	Males: 4-5 meters, weighing approximately 500-700 kg; Females: 3-3.5 meters, weighing approximately 200-300 kg

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How to identify

Body color mostly gray-green with black markings; head broad with a wide snout; prominent bony scutes on the back; strong, laterally flattened tail adapted for swimming; teeth visible, especially the fourth lower jaw tooth

Habitat

Freshwater rivers, lakes, swamps, wetlands, and water bodies near sparse wooded savannas

Diet

Carnivorous, primarily preys on fish, birds, and mammals; occasionally hunts large prey such as antelope and buffalo calves

When it is active

Primarily nocturnal, active from dusk through the night, mostly resting during the day

Where it lives

Widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Egypt, South Africa; commonly found in the Masai Mara National Reserve

How to spot it

Observe at water edges during early morning or dusk, maintain a safe distance, use binoculars or telephoto lenses, avoid disturbing the animal

Photography tips

Use telephoto lenses to ensure safe distance; choose times with good water surface reflection; focus on capturing dynamic moments of swimming and open-mouth hunting