A Crocodile lurks every 200 meters in the river....

Every 200 metres or so along every coastal river on the tropical coast lurks a crocodile. It might be on the bank basking in the sun, or submerged waiting for prey to happen by. They are ambush hunters and will wait patiently for long periods for their next meal.

They are also territorial and will attack any threat to their territory. In the 1970's a huge male crocodile nicknamed Sweetheart began seeing local fishing boats as a threat to his territory, and attacked them whenever they ventured too close.

Park Rangers removed him to safeguard human life and you can see him now - watching over an exhibition of mangled aluminium boats in the Darwin Museum.

Click here for more information on travelling safely through crocodile country.

Nearly hunted to extinction by local hunters for their valuable skins, they are now a protected species in the wild. Specially developed farms breed them in captivity to satisfy demand for their valuable products.

About an hours drive from Darwin you can see these predators in their natural habitat from the safety of tour boats operating on the river. The best boats have been purpose built to get you up close without getting too personal.

Visitor Book Comment; A fantastic day - waterfalls, rockpools, swimming holes and jumping crocodiles all in one day! An action packed day but with all the comforts. Thanks Ian and Goanna Eco Kavita Varshney, Sydney

Crocs are used to jumping from the water to catch birds, and you can see them jump for pieces of meat offered by the crocodile adventure tour operators.

These tour guides know the area intimately and know most of the local animals by name. They know where they live in the river, their sex, their age, their history and how they usually behave.

See more pictures of crocs in their natural habitat and what you can expect to see on this tour. You might even get to feed one yourself - up close and personal with a croc!