Crocworld Conservation Centre

About Crocworld Conservation Centre

Crocworld is an apt name considering that a few hundred breeding Nile crocodiles live there, in amongst a series of snakes, tortoises, waterbirds, flamingos, caracals, jackals, meerkats, a host of different types of birds in a walk-through aviary, and raptors. Obviously the crocs are not in with the latter list of animals, or there would not be many birds and beasts left to tell the tale, but you can see the crocs feeding at 11h00 and 15h00 every day.

Did you know? The park's breeding stock of Nile crocodiles was brought in from Botswana and the KwaZulu-Natal Parks board in the 1980s. Significant emphasis has been placed on recreating as natural an environment as possible for the breeding crocs, which greatly enhances the viewing experience.

The 24 hectare botanical garden which is located in Scottburgh, only 45 minutes out of Durban, filled with indigenous trees and plants creates a space as close to the crocodiles natural environment as possible. The farm originally existed solely to farm Nile crocodiles, but over time the tourism aspect of the park grew, hence the arrival of other animals that provide visitors with a real 'experience' at Crocworld, besides being able to learn a whole lot about crocodiles.

The sight of several hundred crocodiles basking in the sun can be rather intimidating, but rest assured that they are all safely within enclosures. They include a series of alligators, African dwarf crocodiles and the African long snouted crocodile. But the main draw card is without doubt 111-year-old Henry, the oldest croc known to live in captivity and a rather hefty one at that, weighing in at 750 kg.

The breeding crocodiles are housed in enclosures with up to six females and a male. Each expectant mother croc finds a nesting site where they dig a hole in which to lay their eggs. These are then collected, kept in incubator rooms for roughly 80 days and, when ready for hatching, removed to what is termed a 'hot room' before being sold to any registered organisation with a required permit. Most of these are sold for their skins for shoes and accessories.

Find Crocworld by following direction boards from the N2 branch off at Scottburgh.