Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Never Smile at a You-Know-What
Tips
The Aboriginal Gagudju people of the Top End have long worshipped
a giant crocodile called Ginga, but the way white Australians go on
about these reptilian relics of a primeval age, you'd think they wor-
shipped them too. There is scarcely a soul in the Northern Territory
who will not regale you with his or her personal croc story, and each
one will be more outrageous than the last.
Aussies may be good at pulling your leg with tall tales, but when
they warn you not to swim in crocodile country, they're deadly serious.
After all, crocodiles are good at pulling your leg, too—literally. Here
are some tips:
1. There are two kinds of crocodile in Australia, the highly danger-
ous and enormously powerful saltwater or “estuarine” croc, and
the “harmless” freshwater croc, which will attack only if threat-
ened or accidentally stood on. Saltwater crocs can and do swim in
the ocean, but live in fresh water.
2. Don't swim in
any
waterway, swimming hole, or waterfall unless
you have been specifically told it is safe. Take advice only from
someone like a recognized tour operator or a park ranger. You
can never be sure where crocodiles lurk from year to year, because
every wet season crocs head upriver to breed and spread out over
a wide flooded area. As the floodwaters subside, they are trapped
in whatever water they happen to be in at the time—so what was
a safe swimming hole last dry season might not be croc-free this
year.
3. Never stand on or walk along a riverbank, and stand well back
when fishing. A 6m (20-ft.) croc can be 1 inch beneath the surface
of that muddy water yet remain invisible. It moves fast, so you
won't see it until you're in its jaws.
4. Plant your campsite and clean your fish at least 25m (82 ft.) back
from the bank.
And if you do come face to face with a crocodile? There is little you
can do. Just don't get into this situation in the first place!
Facilities are limited. The only town of any size is
Jabiru
(pop. 1,455), a min-
ing community where you can find banking facilities and a few shops. The only
other real settlements are the park's four accommodations houses.
SEEING THE HIGHLIGHTS
EN ROUTE TO KAKADU
En route to the park, stop in at the
Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve
(
&
08/
8988 8009
is the ranger station), 25km (16 miles) down the Arnhem Highway
plus 7km (4
1
⁄
3
miles) off the highway. You'll get a close-up look at geese, finches,
ibis, brolgas, and other wetland birds from lookouts looking over ponds of giant
lilies, or leading through monsoon forests to viewing blinds. There are two look-
outs on the road and three walks, two at 2.2km (1
1
⁄
2
miles) round-trip and one
at 3.6km (2
1
⁄
4
miles) round-trip. Entry is free every day of the year. (Crocs live
