Crocs, Rocks and Flocks (Part 2)

Kakadu National Park

September 7 -16

One of the highlights of our trip was the dawn cruise on the Yellow River and South Alligator River. The knowledge of tour guide Niki was impressive and her stories entrancing, including one about a large salt water croc eating a smaller one, which she happened to capture on camera. The following pics reveal how the cruise unfolded.

Good morning Maxie. This was the star of the croc-eat-croc story. He accompanied us some way up the river, apparently docile but looks can deceive.

There were birds everywhere. This magpie goose was unfazed by the saltie (below) lurking in the shallows nearby.

A beautiful little kingfisher among the lilies.

A Sea Eagle was unsure which was his best side.

Mmmmm. Let's try the left.

Beautiful reflections... 

... but deceptive. There's plenty of action below those still waters. We also witnessed two large males having a territorial spat and three fighting over a cat fish. I wasn't quick enough to catch them in action. 

After the cruise, we regrouped and headed for the nearby plunge pools at Barramundi Falls. You would think after seeing all those man eaters we would not go near water. But the intrepid travellers were unfazed ... and there were people testing the waters ahead of us.

Robyn and Robert took the first plunge. They survived so we followed. Ha.

A natural infinity pool. It was a long drop to the pool below.

Robert sometimes got a bit sick of the camera. Sorry Rob.

Our final dinner. We parted company with Robert and Robyn after six weeks on the road together. A new grandchild and work commitments are drawing the Burns south but we'll likely catch up next year when they venture forth again. A little sad to see them go. It's been grand.

The following day, Garry and I decided to do one more wetlands walk before heading back to the ranger station to have time with Tom and Jas. It was an interesting 5km walk on our lonesome. 

Again it was like a miracle, emerging from the dry, dusty bushland to discover this lush wetland.

Half way round we spotted some rather large fresh manure pats. "Um, they look too big for cattle," I ventured to Garry. "Hmm. I think we have buffalo nearby," stated my fearless fellow, "but we'll be right." We forged on, but my neck had turned to rubber and was doing a 360 swivel. To allay my fears Garry hoisted a big stick onto his shoulder.

He dropped the stick after this photo thinking we were in the clear. Mr B.B. Buffalo was around the next bend and he was mighty interested in us.

I managed to snap this pic but my little heart was racing. We knew a tree was our only option if he decided to charge but as you can see there were few trees around. We walked very fast and he finally lost interest. We won't do too many more remote wetland walks.

We spent the last afternoon in Kakadu with Tom and Jas at the ranger station near Ubirr. Garry decided to fish the high tide on the East Alligator River ... and he wasn't the only one.

These are not logodiles. There were about 40 salties waiting for the mullet to move upstream with the tide. It was the most extraordinary sight.

Croc with tracking device fixed to his back.

Garry fishing. He lost his sunglasses in the river. I swear I saw one croc swimming off sporting a stylish pair of Ray Bans. 

This fellow kept a close eye on me, perched about 2m above him on a rock. "One slip and she's mine" was the thought bubble emerging from the water.

Two egrets also fishing but keeping one eye on the croc action.

By the way, the Alligator rivers were so named by an early explorer who had just arrived in Oz after being in Florida, US. He mistook the crocodiles for alligators and named the rivers accordingly. When Ludwig Leichhardt arrived some years later he realised the mistake but the maps had been printed and it was too late to change them. 

The rocky outcrop in Tom and Jas's back yard. The underside is covered in artwork. 

The sunset from the Ubirr lookout was quite magnificent.

Happy couple: Tom and Jas in ranger mode.

Goodbye to another fabulous day.