Visiting a Crocodile Feeding and Breeding Farm in South Africa.
There are many crocodile farms in South Africa and I have been to a couple over the years. Some I really liked and others were not that great. We have been told that the St. Lucia Crocodile Farm is pretty good so I was curious to see what it would be like. It was also the first time that Andrey would visit a crocodile farm so we were eager to show him what it was like.
Crocodiles are almost as old as time.
Crocodiles are almost as old as time and very intriguing. I won´t go swimming with one but they are fascinating to watch. This farm is home to a lot of different species of crocodiles and they also breed with them. It is a very informative farm and they have a lot of information about the different types of crocodiles, what they feed them, how they breed with them and what they do with the problem children. Yes apparently there are also problem children amongst the crocodiles. They do not kill the problem crocodiles but capture and relocate them.
We spoke to an old man who had been working there for many years and he told us that they name all the big crocodiles. One of them was known for escaping but they always used to get him back. There are even grumpy crocodiles!
Crocodiles are protected species in Natal. I was very happy to hear that.
There are a lot of ponds with different types of crocodiles: Nile crocodiles, Dwarf crocodiles and Long-snouted crocodiles. The Nile crocodiles are my favourite and also the biggest of them all. Those are the guys you do not mess with!
Feeding time at the Crocodile Farm is an experience.
Feeding time was very interesting and definitely one of the highlights. It takes place at 15h00 in the afternoon and later in the evening. They feed them really nice meat but feeding time was a little smelly. I am not sure if it was the crocodiles, meat or the water. But something was smelly. It was very interesting to watch them. There were hundreds of small crocodiles who came out to eat. We stood there for a long time watching them and had a couple of good laughs!
Crocodiles breed during the summer months. The females lay their eggs in November and December and can be seen lying near or on the nest which they guard aggressively. It takes the eggs 90 days to hatch. The females open the nests and carry the little ones to the water in their mouths.
There is an interesting walking trail between the ponds with many different bird species, trees and unusual signs.
At the entrance is a curio shop that sells books and souvenirs. Foreigners love the curio shop because here you can find traditional Zulu crafts and many gifts that will appeal to the people back home. We had a delicious lunch at the restaurant afterwards, reflecting on the day and what we have seen.
This crocodile park did not disappoint and we all loved the outing!
Where: St.Lucia, Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa
When: 14 December 2007
Nelieta, I had to smile for a minute there when you said, …”and what they do with the problem children.” I mean, until I read the next few words I was imagining the “problem children” to be the ones spoken of as in the sign, “Unruly Children Will Cheerfully Be Fed to the Alligators.” This was a sign posted in The Gazebo, a store I browsed at the beach some time ago. On a different subject, I think you SHOULD publish your blog so that when you’re 80 you can sit in the rocker and share all your travel adventures with your grandchildren!
That sounds like a VERY neat place to visit. Is that set of bones the girls are standing in front of really an alligator? It looks too big!
Sounds like a great place to spend the day, I'd love to wander around and check out the sights. Nice pics !! Thanks for sharing :
wow just discovered your blog. Very interesting. I'll be back to see where you adventures take you.
WOW who would of thought that Crocodiles have as many facets to their personality as humans do. The things you learn and thank you to you for teaching us x
Sounds like a really interesting place to visit…I like the photographs added here and also the info you provided…Thanks for sharing. 😀When The Heart Speaks
Hi SJ, I was just as surprised to hear that they can be moody and trouble makers. They look so lazy without a care in the world but it seems they get frustrated too 🙂
Hi Abhisek, thank you for the visit! I am glad you liked the photos. I always take way too many photos and then it takes ages to decide which ones I want to use for the blog!
I'm crying with crocodile tears.. Whatever that means.Love the story Nelieta graciasA
Hi S.K, thank you for the visit! You are most welcome and I hope my feature adventures will be enjoyable :)Have a great week!
Hi Alejandro…don´t cry for me Alejandro!!! Lalalala…glad you have enjoyed the story! De nada :))))
I've got the replica but you've got the real thing 🙂
What a great experience and plenty of info you have shared. I learned so much on crocodiles from your post.
Thank you Nava! They are very interesting creatures!
Glad to see they're protected species in Natal Nelieta!
Nelieta,Great post what a neat place to visit…I am glad they are protected : ) xoxo Jess
Those baby crocodiles look adorable…but I can't watch them grow into something as big as the Nile crocodile…eow! They look scaly and scary…Now I know the story…I'll get back to your friday tradition 😉
Its great to visit a croco park but still they are hungry predators.!! Im glad that they are preserved for the breeding ..grt pic !!
I've got the replica but you've got the real thing 🙂
wow just discovered your blog. Very interesting. I'll be back to see where you adventures take you.
Hi Melissa, they are adorable when they are young but quite scary when they get big! Now you know the story behind the moment 🙂
Hi Jim, yes it is! They should add more animals to the list!
Hi Jess, thank you for the visit! I am also glad that they are protected :)xxxx A Big hug xxxx
Thank you Nava! They are very interesting creatures!
Hi Claire, that crocodile in your latest blog post is a monster!!!! I think it is safe to have a replica..LOL!
Hi S.K, thank you for the visit! You are most welcome and I hope my feature adventures will be enjoyable :)Have a great week!
Hi Abhisek, thank you for the visit! I am glad you liked the photos. I always take way too many photos and then it takes ages to decide which ones I want to use for the blog!
Hi SJ, I was just as surprised to hear that they can be moody and trouble makers. They look so lazy without a care in the world but it seems they get frustrated too 🙂
Hi David, you are welcome! It is a great outing for the whole family. There is a lot to do and see and very educational too. I love these kind of places :)Thank you for the visit!
Hi Debra, your comment made me laugh! Now only do I see the humour in it…yes I could have easily referred to the problem children being fed to the crocodiles…LOL! The sign that you are referring to is priceless!Some days I lack inspiration and find all my stories and adventures boring…but then I get a kick from somewhere and I am inspired again!Thanks for the visit!
Hi Rachel, it was a great experience! No this was in fact a hippo. We went on another excursion to see hippos in the St. Lucia river. That was another wonderful experience! I will write about that some other time 🙂