When it comes to hunting big game in Africa, hunters are certainly spoilt for choice. They have an amazing array of exceptional hunting destinations at their fingertips and a wide choice of game species available for a memorable and exciting African hunt. Destinations throughout Africa that are renowned for big game hunting in Africa include Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Botswana, to name but a few. Quality hunts, with exceptional game, under the African skies – what more can a hunter wish for? Now imagine being able to make a difference in a local African community while doing just that!

Many big game hunting enthusiasts are familiar with dangerous game hunting in Africa, namely the infamous Big 5 or even the Dangerous 7. The Big 5 (lion, rhino, Cape buffalo, leopard, and elephant) remain sought-after hunting trophies in a world where these animals represent the pinnacle of dangerous game hunting. But two more equally aggressive, challenging, and dangerous species comprise the remaining two members of the Dangerous 7, namely the hippo, as well as the Nile crocodile.

But, it is the Nile crocodile that is the focus of this article, and how it is causing both challenges and opportunities for Mozambique and more specifically the communities located near the water where this man-eating prehistoric reptiles are found. Hunting big game in Africa can, and does, make a difference to those in need.

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Crocodile Hunting in Mozambique: Targeting Africa’s Most Infamous Reptile

Crocodile hunting in Mozambique is a thrilling and exhilarating hunting adventure that many international hunters have firmly added to their bucket lists. The country is famous for its enormous crocodile population, with some specimens measuring more than 17 feet that are often harvested at popular crocodile hunting sites such as Lake Cahora Bassa along the banks of the Zambezi River or towards the north of the country, in the Niassa region.

They are mainly hunted through a walk-and-stalk or baiting method, using a .375 or larger.

But it is these menacing dangerous game species that are causing chaos and destruction throughout large parts of Mozambique, and big game hunting in Africa is making a difference, simply by engaging in an African hunt targeting this cunning reptile.

Is the Nile Crocodile A Dangerous Reptile?

Yes, the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) is extremely dangerous and remains a bloodthirsty, killing machine that will stop at nothing for its next meal. Weighing in at up to 2,000 pounds, with an average length of 14 feet (some specimens even reach 20 feet!), this apex predator boasts more than 60 razor-sharp teeth that can do serious damage and kill with ease.  Crocodiles have the most powerful bite in Africa with a jaw pressure of 3,700 – 4,000 PSI. To give you an idea of how strong that is, the next runner-up is the lion with a jaw pressure of only 650 PSI!

As an apex predator found in freshwater throughout sub-Saharan Africa, it is responsible for the deaths of both animals and humans, with Mozambique annually recording more than 1,000 crocodile attacks.

The History of Crocodile Hunting in Mozambique

Crocodile hunting in Mozambique is an age-old chronicle that is worth exploring. Decades ago, local fisherman used to engage in crocodile hunting both for meat and its skin, earning money for themselves, while simultaneously feeding their families.

From the 1950s to the mid-1970s international hunters used to engage in dangerous game hunting and target this prehistoric beast, but the civil war and unrest in the area saw numbers waning until the beginning of the 1990s.

Nowadays, crocodile hunting in Mozambique remains a popular and exciting African hunt, especially since the region boasts some of the biggest crocodile specimens around.

Some hunters, such as some of the team at Game Hunting Safaris, heard the tales of how these apex predators target and attack villagers and saw it as an incentive to go enjoy a crocodile hunt in Mozambique. Firstly, they would gain a prize dangerous game hunting trophy on their African hunt safari, while also ensuring that there was at least one least predator patrolling the waters of the mighty Zambezi, in search of easy human prey.

Human-Wildlife Conflict in Mozambique

There are shocking statistics of human-wildlife conflict throughout Africa, not only in Mozambique. People’s lives, livelihoods, and homes are threatened as development grows and some species’ natural habitat diminishes, or prey becomes scarce.

What is Human-Wlidlife Conflict?

• The IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) issued a brief in June 2022, addressing this exact issue.
• Human-wildlife conflict exists between humans and wildlife, where the wildlife is a direct and continuous threat to humans, leading to the persecution of the species. An example of this in Mozambique is the Nile crocodile, a daily threat to many communities living alongside Mozambique’s rivers.
• The brief explains how wildlife can threaten people’s safety and livelihoods, leading to conflicts between different parties on how to handle the conflict. These conflicts are becoming more serious in nature, as the animal’s natural habitat is lost with humans encroaching on them.
• These wildlife-human conflicts can threaten human lives
• The effective management of this human-wildlife conflict not only protects communities, but avoids retaliation against wildlife, and stops the escalation of human-wildlife conflict.
• In Mozambique, crocodiles and humans are one of the most dangerous and challenging human-wildlife conflicts to manage.

See iucn-issues-brief-human-wildlife-conflict_final.pdf for the full brief.

Crocodile Attacks: A Daily Scenario when Living in Mozambique

Local Mozambican communities residing along the country’s rivers live under daily attack from Nile crocodiles. These reptiles are the most common species of crocodile found in Africa and are known to attack and kill more people than other species of crocodiles. These man-eaters are known for their expert hunting abilities which they, unfortunately, put to use hunting and attacking humans.

As these villagers go about their daily lives, their movements are closely monitored by this member of the Dangerous 7. They are attacked while washing their clothes, bathing, fishing, or even washing dishes in the only water supply available for many of the communities living along these crocodile-infested waters.

It has been reported that in many populations, their children are not even named until they are about three, as the chances of them not surviving and being eaten by a crocodile are so large, that it is not worth the heartache of naming them. How absolutely horrible and gut-wrenching for the parents, not knowing whether today is the day their family will lose another member!

If you search the internet, you will see numerous article headlines, citing crocodile attacks and death. The below are from www.clubofmozambique.com, a website providing information and news about Mozambique.

“Mozambique: Crocodile attack kills 14-year-old boy in Impaputo, Namaacha” (22 March 2024)

“Mozambique: At least 10 die in crocodile attacks in Manica” (04 April 2024)

“Zambézia: One body found, four still missing after Friday crocodile attacks on the Chire” (26 July 2023)

“Mozambique: Crocodile attacks a growing concern in Vanduzi – RM” (25 January 2023)

“Drownings and crocodile attacks killed five persons in Zambézia this weekend – Police” (22 March 2022)

One of the above articles relates to a mother and her four-month-old baby, who both died in two separate attacks. These man-eating reptiles are only in search of their next meal and are heartless, have no guilt, and only a stomach to fill.

Crocodile attacks are estimated at around 1,000 per annum in Mozambique, with the majority occurring close to Lake Cahora Bassa. The sad fact is that not all crocodile-related attacks (fatal or non-fatal) are reported.

Many areas are far from major cities and sadly, many incidents never make the national and international statistics relating to crocodile attacks and deaths. And, realistically, while some attacks are non-fatal, they can have disastrous consequences for the community, where a person may lose a limb and firstly not have access to adequate healthcare, and secondly, should they survive the attack, they now need to manage the rest of the lives with a severe disability that affects their ability to survive, work, and make a living in a very difficult and rural environment.

So how does crocodile hunting in Mozambique assist the community in dealing with these horrific attacks?

How Mozambican Crocodile Hunting Benefits the Local Communities

As mentioned, crocodile hunting in Mozambique remains a sought-after dangerous game hunting safari. The 2022 hunting season saw the government issue more than 1,000 quotas for crocodile hunting, as well as egg collection, ensuring that revenue from tags and licensing is gained.

Crocodile hunting provides numerous opportunities to deal with the challenge of these prehistoric predators and allows local communities to benefit in various ways, including:

Economic Benefits

• Job Opportunities: Many of the local people in the communities are employed to assist with crocodile hunting in Mozambique. They fulfill numerous and various roles within the tourism and hunting industry, including trackers, skinners, cleaners, chefs, and general workers with hunting outfitters.
• Improvement of Local Infrastructure: As the hunting industry and hunting in Mozambique continues in popularity, so local investors, as well as the tourism and hunting industry, improve and invest in infrastructure. When international hunters visit for their African hunt, they require accommodation, the roads need to be upgraded, and small local shops appear to meet the needs of the communities forming around the dangerous game hunting initiatives.
• Increase in Government Income: As more hunters visit the country, they require tags, licenses, and permits to enjoy crocodile hunting or other hunting adventures in this dangerous game hunting area. All these permits cost money, which generates revenue for the Mozambican government. This in turn can be spent on conservation, and local infrastructure that can benefit the communities, such as schools and clinics, to name but a few.
• Filling Tummies: One of our members who engaged in some trophy crocodile hunting in Mozambique mentioned that he could never eat a crocodile from the area, knowing as he did that these were man-eating crocodiles and had more than likely consumed many humans along its long and illustrious life. For many local communities, crocodile hunts provide welcome protein for its people.

The Community and Conservation

• I believe that to convince a community that conservation is needed and necessary, while their family and community members are being attacked and eaten by crocodiles, is a rather challenging task.
• However, if they can see that by supporting crocodile hunting in the area, they are not only able to gain some “revenge” on the beasts that are attacking them (and not killing the crocodiles themselves or being in danger and the job is still done!), while still profiting from the hunters being there through an income and improved infrastructure, you can have a positive and winning situation.
• The local community is also more protected with crocodile hunting in Mozambique. Each crocodile hunted is one less crocodile that will seek their members out as prey, or even their livestock, which for many is their livelihood and source of food.
• Conservation efforts also allow for the education and awareness of crocodile attacks, allowing people to learn about the threat of potential danger, how and when people get bitten, and how to protect themselves.

What Steps are being taken to Prevent Crocodile Attacks in Mozambique?

It has been reported that local communities, along with relevant government authorities are working hand-in-hand to minimize crocodile attacks and the effects thereof. Some measures that have been put into place include:  

• Awareness And Educational Resources: By creating awareness of the presence of crocodiles, for example with signs near a river that is inhabited by these reptiles, you are informing, creating awareness, and teaching people to be aware of the potential danger in the situation.
• Community Involvement: Members of the community can assist in keeping a lookout for crocodiles and report any sightings and these activities can assist in keeping people safe and avoiding any potential attacks.
• Creation of Buffer Zones: While the crocodiles’ habitat is important, so are the humans who live in and around it. There is a fine line between ensuring the safety of humans and conversation efforts for the Nile crocodile. The creation of a bugger zone between a potential crocodile nesting area and a human settlement would alleviate potential wildlife-human conflicts and the dangers associated with them.
• Safe Fishing Routines: The risk of possible encounters between fishermen and crocodiles can be avoided by enforcing safe fishing practices and routines. These can include not fishing in the middle of a known crocodile breeding ground, cleaning fish away from the water, and not disposing of fish or fish waste within known crocodile areas.
• Warning Signs: These can assist in alerting people of potential danger near bodies of water that can have crocodiles within, for example, lakes and rivers. They can warn people against water activities, such as swimming, snorkeling, fishing, or canoeing in the water.
• Relocation of Species: Should a crocodile pose an active threat or be a menace in or near a community or human settlement, it may be relocated to an area that is both safer for humans and the reptile.

Your Crocodile Hunting Safari Makes A Difference

While crocodile hunting plays its part in assisting the locals within Mozambique in many ways, it is only through a combined and collaborative effort that these communities can operate and thrive daily.

These cold-blooded killers play a vital role within the environment and cannot be eliminated but together international hunters, the community, and the government each play their role in making the lives of community members just a bit better – and a bit safer.

Read more about the exciting dangerous game hunting adventures of our founder hunting crocodiles in Mozambique, as well as a women’s perspective on hunting big game in Africa – and harvesting the largest crocodile on the Mozambican trip!

Author: B. Hershensohnn