Kruger National Park trail guide survives a tussle with a crocodile

Posted by Jordyn Johnson on 14 May 2023

Experienced trail guide Mark Montgomery narrowly escaped a crocodile’s jaws while hiking the Kruger Trail in Mpumalanga with a group.

Having been a trail guide since 1998, he’s a special knowledge and skills (dangerous animals) guide of the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (SKS DA FGASA). He’s had many encounters with dangerous animals over his years of experience, but nothing quite like a tussle with a crocodile.

While on the fifth leg of the Kruger Trail, his group stopped alongside the Metsi Metsi River. Montgomery went to scoop clean water out from a part of the river, and on his third scoop noticed the crocodile’s head just below the water.

He told the South Coast Herald, ‘I looked and the crocodile’s head was dead still under the surface. There wasn’t even a ripple or anything. I think I pulled my hand back. If I hadn’t, it would have gotten my arm. The part from seeing the head to realising I’m in the water myself, is not even in my brain. It was that fast. It is literally, he grabs my hand and you hear the water.’

A brave hiker jumped in after him, but the crocodile was too fast and dragged Montgomery deeper underwater.

He reached his other hand around the crocodile’s neck to try to get to its eye or pry its mouth open. He continuously kicked up, trying to halt the attack.

As the crocodile began turning, he turned in the opposite direction. Suddenly the croc let go of his hand.

‘At that moment I lurched to the surface. The bank was about 1.6 m away. I lunged and lunged and grabbed the roots of a stunted jackalberry on the other side. In the meantime, I’m picturing this crocodile grabbing me from the back into the water. I lurched so strongly, I partially tore my right hamstring; the left one is bruised.’

Montgomery ended up on the opposite riverbank but crossed back by walking over a shallow part of the river.

He lay beneath some trees where first aiders among the guests assisted him. The assistant guide called for help, and he was transported to Skukuza and then to Mediclinic Nelspruit.

After three surgeries, doctors were able to save his hand, and ‘he should get most of it back to full use again.’

Although a terrifying experience, he’s not going to let his croc incident stop him from doing what he loves. He did add that he might scoop water with a bucket and rope next time though.

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ALSO READ: 5 Eco-friendly getaways in South Africa






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