During a recent press trip to Tanzania, I spent a morning on Lake Tagalala in the heart of the Selous Game Reserve.

The lake is teeming with wildlife, including hippos and dozens of bird species. But it's best known for its massive crocodile population, said to be one of the densest in the world.

As we boated around the lake, I was amazed at the number of crocodiles I saw  one would emerge from the brush and slide into the water every moment or two.

But it wasn't the crocodiles that had me jumping out of my seat. The lake was also filled with flying fish, and every few minutes one would flip into the boat and catch my entire tour group off guard.

Scroll through to see the crocodiles and other wildlife that populate Lake Tagalala and its shores.

lake tagalala tanzaniaJulie Zeveloff/Business Insider

We toured the lake in this boat, with sides low enough for a fish to jump in.

boatJulie Zeveloff/Business Insider

We started seeing the crocodiles right away.

crocodileJulie Zeveloff/Business Insider

crocodileJulie Zeveloff/Business Insider

crocodileJulie Zeveloff/Business Insider

There were other reptiles around the lake, too.

lizardJulie Zeveloff/Business Insider

crocodileJulie Zeveloff/Business Insider

It's also home to a diverse array of birds.

pelicans birdsJulie Zeveloff/Business Insider

And hippos.

hippos birdsJulie Zeveloff/Business Insider
