“Don't worry, it's only a freshie.” The whispered words didn't lessen our adrenaline levels as we crouched down watching from the river's edge. Sunning itself on the riverbank was an animal from the age of the dinosaurs, a freshwater crocodile, the smaller relative of the dreaded “saltie,” the saltwater or estuarine crocodile.
Freshwater crocodiles avoid human contact and the reason for our stealth was so it wouldn't dive into the river and vanish. Several more lazed not far away, also basking in the sun. We are travelling by four-wheel-drive Landcruiser to Cape York, mainland Australia's most northern point. Every river crossing has potential for crocodile spotting although we prefer the “salties” from a distance.
