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124
Rufiji River (Figure 2)
The Ruliji was divided into two strata. The Upper Ruf'ti is a wide sandy river with moderate
crocodile densities between 2.1 and 4.94 crocodiles/km (mean = 2.89; Table l). In 1963
densities were estimated to be between L95 and 3.51 crocodiles/km (Grabam and Bell, 1963)
while Hutton and Katalihwa (1988) estimated a density of 0.98 crocodiles/km while the river
was in flood.
The lower Rufiji (within the Selous) is a very wide sandy .iver which flows into a palm
swamp. The main channels have extensive sandhanks but the river changed its course in
l980.The new channels are generally narrowe. and some have mud banks. Estimates of
crocodile densities are high and range from 0.91 to 34.78 crocodiles/km (mean = 10.82; Table
Figure 2: Selous crocodile survey - 1990
Se ous
Boundory
Steiglers 9.2
Gorge y Rufiji lo kes
Ruoho
lfckoro
Ruliji/Ruohc
con uence
Kilom bero
Ny'oTSh
a e
Numbers represent
overage densities
(crocslkm) between
Shiguli Foils
RuJiji lakes (Figurc 2)
North of the main Rufiji channel are five lakes one of which is fed by thermal springs.
Travelling from west to easthe lakes are named Tagalalla, Manze, Nzerakera, Siwando and
Mzizima respectively. Some cf these shalbw lakes are connected to the river allowing
movement of crocodiles. Density estimates were high ranging from 2.99 crocodiles/km in Lake
Mzizima to 18.0? crocodiles/km io Lake Tapalalla.