Never Smile at a JUMPING crocodile - the tour that nearly didn't happen

We had a 6am pick up according to our tour info package. It was still dark, so at least it was cool while we were waiting.

A little bus comes around the corner with the name of our tour on the side (with a logo like Indiana Jones), but doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down, so we step out on the road and started waving our hands around.

A big bloke (the driver and tour guide, Damo) puts down his window as we cross the road and says he doesn’t have us on his list for the day. Oh shit! Anyway, to cut a long story short, he has two spare seats for the day, so on we hop. Phew!

Damo tells us all that we are going to be doing a 460km round trip to the Adelaide River (should be called The Croc Infested River) and then to see the Giant Magnetic Termite Mounds and then to three waterholes and waterfalls. Damo also tells us that our lunch will be pretty special too. We have a couple of other quick stops as well. Humpty Doo and Batchelor.

First though, to the Croc Infested – sorry I mean – Adelaide River. Damo tells everyone to wait in the little shaded kiosk area while he gets the boat ready. He doesn’t have to tell us twice, as we can already see the crocodiles in the muddy waters of the river. Oh crap, I didn’t realise it was going to be this scary.

All aboard the boat and our croc cruise driver – also Damo – tells us, or basically warns us, DO NOT PUT ANY PART OF YOUR BODY OVER THE SIDE RAILING OF THE BOAT AND please all stay seated where you are so as not to rock the boat.

Almost immediately there is a croc heading straight for us, staring at us with his beady eyes, then there is another and another and another, oh shit, these creatures are everywhere.

Damo and his business partner, Andy, have a licence to feed the crocs in the wild, so Damo attaches a chicken carcass to a string on a pole and dangles it over the edge. SNAP!! A crocodile jumps straight up out of the water and bam, the chicken carcass is no longer. It isn’t just the speed at which the croc chomps the chicken down, it’s the booming bang noise the croc’s jaws make as he grabs a hold of the carcass. You can just imagine what those jaws could do to human bones, actually I really don’t want to imagine!

Damo gives us heaps of great info about crocodiles, I can’t remember most of it as I was in self-preservation mode, but here are some points that stuck with me.

· There are more crocodiles in the Northern Territory than people (wonder why, yum yum yum)

· Crocs kill 1-2 people every year, they (the people) are usually swimming where they shouldn’t be and have generally been drinking – so feel much braver

· They are the oldest creatures to walk the earth.

· They live up to 70 years old and grow up to 6m in length.

Say hello to Brutus, the famous 6.1m, 3 legged croc.

As you can see we were very close to these massive, dangerous, nasty creatures and to be honest it was awesome, but Lyle and I couldn’t wait to get out of the boat and back on to the bus. Definitely a bucket list item.

Back on the bus, and Damo hands out some yummy snacks and keeps reminding us to drink lots of water. Next stop Humpty Doo – home of the big – you guessed it – crocodile. This one at least you can get close to and take a nice touristy pic. I need some new sunnies, so I jump off at the servo and grab a new pair.

Next on our day trip are the termite mounds. Oh, I can hear you saying, whoop de doo, termite mounds, but let me tell you, they are so damn cool, but you will have to wait to see what termite mounds and Subway 12inch subs have in common. (follow me on Facebook or Instagram to see more)

Cheers Leanne and Lyle

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