A saltwater crocodile sunbathing on the bank of the Mary River

The third and final leg of my Top End tour focused on the national parks surrounding Darwin – mainly Kakadu and Litchfield. The area is renowned for its waterfalls, swimming holes, ancient rock art and… crocodiles! Mary River is is one of the most densely croc-inhabited places in the world, a statistic that you realize is not exaggerated once you’re out on the water. In just our 90 minute boat trip we saw about a dozen of the giant creatures. We also saw glorious birds (of course) and beautiful lotus flowers, which unfortunately are considered a pest in the area since they were brought in from Asia and are not endemic.

The tour was really educational as we learned about the crocodiles’ mating habits and why they are built they way they are (hint: almost every detail helps them stay cool!).

A Jabiru, or Black Necked Stork on the bank of the Mary RIver

A white egret

The impressive water-repelling properties of the lotus leaf on display in the Mary River

A jabiru showing off its impressive height

The lovely azure kingfisher, difficult to spot because it’s so small!

Can you spot the croc?

Yet another crocodile in the Mary River

Comb crested jacana birds – affectionately known as “Jesus birds” – walking on some lotus leaves

The inside of a lotus flower on the Mary River