
5 Fascinating Facts About the Nile Crocodile

Mike is an award-winning wildlife writer, former editor of Travel Zambia magazine and author of the Bradt Guide to Southern African Wildlife.
The Nile crocodile is a massive reptile and probably the most feared predator in Africa. And with good reason. It is one of the very few animals for which human beings regularly feature on the menu. Below are five fascinating facts about the Nile crocodile.
- Crocodiles have the strongest bite in the animal kingdom. And the Nile crocodile is no different. It's bite can exert a force eight times more powerful than that of a great white shark and 15 times more than a Rottweiler’s. Powerful muscles for closing the jaws, however, contrast with small, weak ones for opening them.
- Female crocodiles exhibit impressive maternal care. They use their massive jaws to transport newly hatched young to a ‘nursery pool’ where they guard them from predators.
- The sex of crocodile hatchlings is determined by the temperature at which the eggs incubate. At 30ºC or less they will be mostly female; at 31ºC they will be mixed; and at 32ºC, they will be mostly male.
- Crocodiles are the most vocal of reptiles. Among more than five different calls are the deep, vibrating bellow of courting males and the ‘peeping’ of babies inside the egg. This 'peeping' encourages the female to excavate the nest.
- Large crocodiles swallow stones, known as gastroliths. These act as ballast, helping them to balance their body underwater.
Want To Go on an African Safari?
Click on the button below to compare African safaris offered by top-rated tour operators.

Mike is an award-winning wildlife writer, former editor of Travel Zambia magazine and author of the Bradt Guide to Southern African Wildlife.
More About This AuthorAfrican Safari Tours
-
3-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Adventure Tour
$1,100 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Central Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire NP, Arusha (End)
Migration Venture Africa
4.8/5 – 392 Reviews
-
11-Day Tanzania Safari with Zanzibar Beach Break
$9,199 to $12,299 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti NP, Zanzibar (End)
Wayfairer Travel
4.8/5 – 185 Reviews
-
4-Day Private Luxury Safari with Free Internet
$2,368 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Central Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Mountain Warriors Tours and Safaris
4.9/5 – 246 Reviews