INTERACT WITH WILD ANIMALSAT THE CROCODILE PARK IN VICTORIA FALLS

The Crocodile Park is one of Victoria Falls’ leading tourist attractions, dating back to the 1970s, originally operating under the name Spencer’s Creek until 2018.

Positioned 5 kilometres from the Victoria Falls town centre, and within a short distance from the Zambezi National Park, the park is home to a variety of species, and a worthy addition to any tourist itinerary. Within its surroundings are a crocodile farm and a snake pit, and people can see animals including the Nile Crocodile, which is the second largest reptile in existence after the Saltwater Crocodile.

Since its opening, thousands of tourists, both domestic and international, continue to list the attraction on their itineraries – whether they are on a national or regional tour. The croc park provides sought-after tour activities, belying its humble start as a nature reptile sanctuary for a variety of animals that were not suitable for release back into the wild.

Unique visits can be experienced and allow tourists to come close to the Nile Crocodile, a species originally endemic to the mighty Zambezi River. Visitors can interact with the animals in a safe and controlled environment, making the crocodile farm highly recommended for visitors. This is an experience of a lifetime and too exciting to miss, allowing for close up views and a better understanding of the animals.

One of the most popular attractions at the croc farm is the feeding time of the reptiles, something special and a never-before-seen experience for most visitors. Visitors can watch large reptiles jump out of the water to wildly snap at the chunks of meat fed by a team of specially trained animal handlers. The handlers can also assist keen visitors to hold a baby crocodile, something that is impossible to do in the wild.

Crocodile Cage Diving Victoria Falls Diving On the Edge

Visitors can have first-hand interactive experiences with more than the crocodiles experience as the park is also home to lions (one of the Big 5) and over 60 different species of snakes collected from over 20 countries.

“The park is for educational tours on the species we have that call us home. We have two female lions who were rescued and the largest snake collection in Zimbabwe with both local species and exotic species. And not to be missed is our selection of crocodiles of all ages. We also have a curio shop fully stocked with beautifully crafted items from our local artisans.

The shop also stocks a variety of leather products made from crocodile skin, such as bags, wallets, purses, and belts,” said Natalia Attwell, Manager.

She said that due to the park’s ability and capacity to offer so much knowledge, it is a great tour for schools and business groups and not only the foreigners. The park can host large groups at a time, unlike some other activity sites in the resort town and surrounding areas.

Text by Martin Chemhere
Images courtesy of Ryan Vanderlinde aka Zambezi Boy Photography

From DESTINATION ZW EDITION 3