Monitor lizards

There are two species of monitor lizards in the Kruger National Park: Nile or water monitors and rock monitors. Both are found throughout the park.

Nile / water monitor

(Varanus niloticus)

Nile Water Monitor

Nile monitors are found close to water – next to rivers or dams where they are sunbathing on the rocks or walking near the water's edge. You may even see them swimming. They appear smoother and more brightly coloured than the dull rock monitor. If you look carefully, you should see the stunning dark marks on its yellowish throat. They can grow to over two metres long, but you are more likely to see smaller Nile monitors of about a metre long.

Rock monitor

(Varanus albigularis)

Rock Monitor

Rock monitors look stockier than the elegant Nile monitors, and also duller and rougher. They are excellent tree climbers and, just like Nile monitors, use their tails as whips when defending themselves. Rock monitors are frequently seen in some of the camps in the Kruger National Park.

martial eagle

Monitor lizards are very often killed by the martial eagle, one of the largest eagles in the Kruger National Park!

Back to main reptiles page

How to find monitor lizards in the Kruger National Park:

leopard

Stay at these camps:
Letaba
Berg-en-Dal
Skukuza

Drive these roads and visit these places:
Hippo pools
S23 Biyamiti Loop
S51 gravel road
Lake Panic bird hide

Top tips:
Look for monitor lizards anywhere near large rocks next to riverbeds or close to water. They love to warm themselves in the sun.

Letaba camp and its surroundings is probably the best place in the Kruger National Park for monitor lizards.

Check out our Kruger reptiles gallery:reptiles gallery



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