On the first afternoon drive with a new set of guests, Tracker Bennett Mathonsi and I decided to start out by heading down to the causeway, a low-level bridge that crosses the Sand River. A great place to begin a game drive on a warm summer afternoon. As expected we were welcomed to a plethora of bird life, the resident raft of hippos, and a lone crocodile in the far corner. All making use of a pool of stationary water on the southern side of the main channel.
We found ourselves immersed in watching the grey herons tend to their young chicks and the intricacies of the weavers’ building their nests. We were, however, mistaken to not take too much notice of the crocodile which we were soon to realise was observing every move in its surroundings. Now I must reiterate, that a sighting that I am about to share with you does not happen often and the fact that we saw this was hugely out of the ordinary and phenomenal to be able to witness.
No sooner had a terrapin appeared from the reeds just to the right of our vehicle slowly moving towards the pool to our left, the crocodile moved swiftly into action. One would have thought the terrapin would have been out of the direct line of sight of the crocodile, but we were very quickly proved wrong.
The crocodile and terrapin came face to face moments before the crocodile launched into action. By then it was sadly too late for the terrapin to escape this cunning crocodile.
Not even 15 minutes into our first-afternoon drive were we blown away by a moment of nature at its rawest beauty. Not to mention Bennett’s excitement as he exclaimed that he had never witnessed anything quite like this in his 24 years as a tracker at Londolozi. While it was undoubtedly a first for my guests and me, it is a pure example of how tactful and cunning crocodiles can be. Crocodiles’ safety is within the water and this is where the majority of their hunting takes place, their powerful tail is what they use to propel themselves forward. Out of the water, their locomotion is somewhat significantly slower and their defences limited. Albeit they are still faster than the poor terapin.
Below is a video of our sighting, and please note that this is not for sensitive viewers!
We continued to watch the crocodile, an ancient predator if you will, eerily glide back into the waterhole and disappear beneath the surface. While terrapins are known to submerge themselves for extended periods, this terrapin didn’t stand a chance in the jaws of the crocodile. With a 4000psi (pounds per square inch) bite, although a somewhat unusual meal for a crocodile, this cunning crocodile made a quick meal of the terrapin on this particular afternoon!
Amazing & Unique! wow. Just shows us again that nature adapts to eat, to reproduce and survive. Fortunately, you were at the right place at the right time.
It really was amazing! Very fortunate to witness this interaction!
An incredible sighting! Poor little terrapin, didn’t stand a chance against that prehistoric beast – who needs to eat too…
Such an incredible sighting Mary 🙂 Tough for the terrapin but as you say the Crocodile does need to eat too!
Such an exciting interaction. In the many, many times I’ve been over the causeway I’ve seen crocodiles only lurking in the second pool.
I know, they are often lurking there but now we know they are after the terrapins too when they get a chance!
Wow Kelsey, that was an amazing and unusual sighting! The crocodile must have been hungry to expend the energy to leave the water and go after that little terrapin. Nature truly surprises us when we least expect it.
Thank you Denise, it really was a unique sighting and another one of natures great surprises!
Like the crocodile, I too, enjoy a crunchy snack from time to time. 😉
Haha I couldn’t agree with you more Chelsea! 🙂
Poor little guy was faster than I expected him to be! Why do you suppose the croc chose to come out of his comfort zone to pick on the unusual meal?
He was rather quick, just unfortunately not quick enough to escape a hungry crocodile! Although fish makes up the majority of a crocodile’s diet, they are opportunistic when a meal presents itself.
What an amazing sighting. Poor terrapin and a really sneaky crocodile.
One can often read that crocodiles are quite slow-moving animals out of the water. I wonder, because I have also seen some on a small island once rushing out of the vegetation and into the water at an incredible speed. The chase you watched is really something extraordinary.
It was an extraordinary sighting Christa – very fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time and to capture the sighting. Crocodiles can get up to speeds anywhere between 17-35km/h they however won’t be able to maintain those speeds for very long.
Poor little thing ran faster than ive ever seen a terrapin go. Imagine it took the right and went under the vehicle, that would of been interesting.
Crocodiles are ancient creatures that are thought to have barely changed from prehistoric times, but they have found the perfect hunting strategy. Animals have to go and get a drink and their just there waiting for them ready.
I was thinking the exact same. Too bad he didn’t go under the vehicle, he might have escaped. The croc might not have been able to its mouth around him!
Things certainly could have got interesting if they had both gone under our vehicle – I must say I am quite glad they didn’t though!
One of my favorite spots in the preserve. We have seen crocodiles waiting with opened mouths for their next meal spilling over the causeway. On one visit, it was the only time I’d seen a croc out of water, ambling across the bridge.
It is a great spot, often with lots to be seen. The crocodile certainly changed its meal up on this afternoon though!
That crocodile must of been very hungry to come out of the water to eat the Terrapin, shame poor little terrapin could not get away from the beast of the water. Unique footage thank you Kelsey.
My pleasure Valmai, I was very excited I was able to capture the sighting to share the experience.
Amazing video, thanks Kelsey.
I’m glad you enjoyed it William.
Kelsey, What an incredible sighting! All we can say is wow – right next to your vehicle too!
I know! It was incredible and it all happened so quickly!
Wow, crazy siting! As unique as it was primal. Great capture Kelsey and team!
Wow – that was something to watch – I do feel bad for that Terrapin – he didn’t stand a chance – I wouldn’t have thought a crocodile could/would want to eat the shell – but I was wrong!