Most people visiting Australia would probably be happy with sighting a single saltwater crocodile, preferably at a distance.
But there is a place where they gather in such huge numbers, you can see dozens of them, guaranteed, all from the same dedicated viewing platforms.
And, no, it’s not a zoo. It’s the relatively unknown and very remote Cahills Crossing, and according to Kakadu National Park, 50 crocs have been counted in a stretch of water no more than 400 metres long and 120 in the 6km up to the crossing.
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You only see these really high numbers at a certain time of year, however. In this northern part of Northern Territory, it’s the end of the dry season from September to November and the floodplains and other waterways dry out, concentrating the crocs in the main channel of the East Alligator River.
The river is tidal, and the incoming tide pushes fish such as mullet and barramundi upstream to the weir at Cahills Crossing, and here the reptilian behemoths lie in wait, snapping up an easy, if not quite free, lunch.
Three viewing platforms directly overlook the crossing, which means there’s no need to take your life in your hands (or put it into the mouth of a hungry reptile that can grow nearly 7 metres long) by doing something risky such as walking across the causeway or fishing near the bank. Both of these activities are actively discouraged.
You can also take a cruise, during which Aboriginal guides will tell you about some of the individual crocs, as well as about the culture and mythology of the area and its wildlife.
You can drive across the causeway, but wait for low tide because – and there are enough videos on YouTube to demonstrate this – at high tide, there’s sufficient water flow to push even a rugged 4x4 into the river. And, remember, that’s where the crocs are.
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The rains return in November, allowing them to spread out over a much wider area, and that’s the end of the Cahills Crossing croc spectacle for the year.
With an estimated 100,000 animals in the state, Northern Territory is regarded as the saltwater crocodile capital of the world. If that’s the case, then Cahills Crossing is its Piccadilly Circus.
