Nile crocodiles live in Africa. They live on the island of Madagascar too. They live in rivers, freshwater marshes and mangrove swamps.

As of November 2026, this is Africa's largest crocodile. Its eyes are on top of its head. It swims by moving its tail. Its short legs stay against its body.

Fish are the main food of a Nile crocodile. Young ones eat insects and small fish.

In daylight a Nile crocodile basks in the sun. It cools off in the water if it needs to.

A mother makes her nest on a riverbank. She may use a sandy shore or a dry streambed. She guards the nest until the eggs hatch.

She lays at least 25 eggs in one nest. The eggs take about 90 days to hatch. That is three months.

Baby crocodiles call from inside their eggs. They call just before they hatch. The mother digs up the nest.

Next she takes the newly hatched babies to the water. She carries them in her mouth.

Words to know

• basks: sits in sun
• hatch: come from eggs
• nest: egg home
• marshes: wet land