A Nile crocodile caused pandemonium at an award-winning riverside lodge in Zimbabwe after wandering into the building, hauling itself onto a kitchen counter and eventually settling on a lounge sofa as horrified guests scrambled for cover.
The incident unfolded on Friday at A’Zambezi River Lodge, with shaky video footage capturing the moment the twelve-foot reptile strolled through the lobby and made its way toward the staff area. Diners fled in all directions as the animal launched its front legs onto a kitchen counter and pulled its body up onto the surface, its tail swaying against the floor as its hind legs struggled to find purchase. After remaining motionless on the counter for a period, the crocodile eventually slid back down and proceeded to make itself comfortable on one of the lounge sofas.
Rangers and wildlife specialists from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority were rapidly deployed to the scene. Initial attempts to guide the animal back toward the Zambezi River proved unsuccessful — the crocodile, apparently in no hurry, relocated to a water feature at the front of the lodge before the team was eventually able to restrain it using ropes. It was subsequently immobilised, removed from the property and released back into the Zambezi.
ZimParks spokesman Luckmore Safuli confirmed that no guests or staff were injured and that no damage had been caused to the property. He noted that such incursions, while startling, were not entirely out of the ordinary given the lodge’s position within the crocodile’s natural habitat. “It is not unusual for crocodiles to move up onto dry land, especially as this incident happened within the species’ natural range,” he said.
John Richards, a guest from Portsmouth who witnessed the drama, said staff and security moved quickly to ensure everyone’s safety, describing the arrival of rangers armed with ropes and canvas who eventually secured the animal and carried it away.
The lodge’s spokesperson, Pride Khumbula, said guests had initially reacted with a degree of excitement rather than pure alarm, noting that the venue’s reputation for wildlife proximity was central to its appeal. Hippos, elephants, warthogs and monkeys regularly visit the grounds and riverbanks, she said, adding that staff were thoroughly trained to handle such encounters effectively.
Nile crocodiles are the largest predators on the African continent, capable of reaching twenty feet in length, weighing up to a tonne and running at speeds of 20mph. They are estimated to kill approximately 1,100 people across Africa each year.
