The CrocWorld Crocodile Park near Scottburgh
where conservation happens
Crocworld Crocodile Park is spread out over 24 hectares and laid out in a park like setting with walkways meandering through it. The indigenous gardens were developed as a showcase and to inspire visitors on how to garden successfully with indigenous plants at home. There are plenty of shady trees and benches if you want to sit down and take in the scenery.
This wheelchair friendly venue is ideal for a family outing and will entertain from the youngest to the oldest visitor with a variety of things to do and see. Since conservation is the main focus of this park, most of the animals and birds you will see here were either born in captivity or injured and are unable to to take care of themselves in the wild.
From Farming to Conservation
Crocworld Crocodile Park started out as a working farm focusing on breeding and then harvesting the skin, meat, and eggs of crocodiles but has turned it’s focus to conservation instead.
Owned by Crookes Brothers Limited since 1985 and part of the Mpambanyoni Conservation Development, the focus is on conservation, education and connecting people with nature in such a way that is will become part of their everyday lifestyle.
Besides the large collection of crocodiles you can expect to see the birds in and outside of the walk-though aviary and the pink flamingos in their wetland. There is also an aviary that houses endangered injured vultures giving you the rare opportunity to have a closer look at the legendary undertakers of nature.
What makes the Crocworld Crocodile Park special is the wild animals that made it their home right along with the birds and animals that are being taken care of there. While walking around you will also see wild waterbirds, jackals, meerkats, monkeys and a selection of birds that will make any birder happy. Keep an eye on the sea in the background as you might just be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of whales or dolphins frolicking in the water.
Witness how the crocodiles are being fed, take part in a snake demonstration, meet the cute pygmy goats, rabbits and pigs at the MacDonald animal farm and visit the interesting collection of snakes, reptiles and tortoises in their enclosures.
If you have an interest in gardening be sure to visit the indigenous nursery for plants and very valuable advice on how to garden with water wise plants on the coast.
The Le Rendez-Vous Restaurant at Crocworld has breathtaking sea views and offers every day meals as well as fine dining cuizine. Try the crocodile dishes if you dare!
Things to do at the CrocWorld Crocodile Park:
Crocodile Feedings
Bird Aviaries
Animal Farm
Snake Demonstrations
Vulture program
Playground
Curio Shop
Flamingo Wetland
Snakes safety course for kids
Picnic area
Call Isis
Kids party venue
Trail walks
Cranes
Cycad garden
Meet Harry
Le Rendez-Vous Restaurant
Indigenous nursery
Tortoises
Wedding venue
Whale watching platform
The crocodiles at Crocworld
Crockworld might have started out as a commercial crocodile farm but today you will only find pampered crocodiles basking in the sun that will die of old age. Look out for the Alligators and the Nile, Dwarf and Slender Snouted Crocodiles.
The impressive crocodile enclosures were designed in such a way that you can get up close and personal with the crocodiles without any danger to you. It is possible to safely stand right next to these giant dinosaur like creatures to watch them or to take beautifully detailed pictures.
Will kids enjoy visiting Crocworld?
Yes! There are lots of fun to be had while learning about the Crocworld animals, birds and reptiles:
- There is a large play area, that can accommodate disabled children, that is an adventure in itself.
- Move on to the MacDonald Farm and feed the farm animals.
- Enroll them into a Snakes safety course to learn about snakes.
- Don’t forget to go and greet Isis, the fish eagle, in the walk-through aviary.
- Visit the vulture enclosure to see the undertakers of nature.
- Watch the crocodiles having a meal.
- See a snake demonstration.
- Hold a baby crocodile during the hatching season.
- Visit the flamingos.
- Watch out for whales and dolphins.
- Walk a trail and become a bird watcher.
- See lots of monkeys.
- Have a yummy meal at the Le Rendez-Vous Restaurant.
- Have your birthday party at Crocworld.
To make it easier for mom and dad:
- There is a baby changing room.
- Volunteers on duty will help keep an eye on the children in holiday times.
School groups are being catered for with a stimulating array of talks, lesson plans and other resources that can be utilized by educators.
Going to the birds …
Against a backdrop of awe inspiring sea views you can visit the large walk-through aviary to view the impressive collection of hundreds of free flying birds and special characters such as an owl, hawk, fish eagle and a toco toucan.
A great addition to Crocworld is a vulture enclosure that houses endangered vultures that aren’t able to survive in the wild due to injuries. (If you would like the opportunity to see vultures in the wild visit our Vultures viewing page.)
There is also a picturesque wetland area inhabited by graceful pink flamingos to see.
Crocworld is truly a birders paradise with well over a hundred bird species counted in the gardens. This is the perfect location to safely watch birds in their natural environment and for children to go on bird watching expeditions.
Meet Henry, the world’s oldest crocodile in captivity
Henry is a Nile crocodile, born around 1900, and originally from the Okavango Delta in Botswana. He terrorized a local tribe and was said to be a man killer who ate several children. The tribe asked an elephant hunter known as ‘Sir Henry’ to capture and kill him. After his capture the tribe elders, after consulting their forefathers, decided that he must be sentenced to life in captivity instead of being killed.
Henry was donated to Crocworld in 1985 by the hunter’s grandchildren after spending most of his life in an enclosure in the hunter’s camp. Today he is living a life of luxury surrounded by his harem of ‘wives’ and still produces hundreds of offspring every year.
Where is Crocworld?
GPS: -30.254992, 30.771998
From Durban: Take the Dududu/R102/Scottburgh exit and follow the direction boards.
From Margate: Take the Scottburgh exit and follow the direction boards.
HOURS:
8am–4:30pm
8am–5pm (holiday time)
WHERE:
Scottburgh
PHONE:
039 976 1103
WEBSITE:
www.crocworld.co.za
EMAIL:
crocworld@cbl.co.za
- You are here: CrocWorld Crocodile Park >
- Reptiles of KwaZulu Natal >
- Home
