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All Ghana Paga Sacred Crocodile Ponds of Paga

Sacred Crocodile Ponds of Paga

The souls of the dead have made these Ghanese crocodiles shockingly docile.

Paga, Ghana

Added By
Alex Timian
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Tourists can hang out with the crocodiles.   Dieu-Donné Gameli on Wikimedia Commons
Tourists can hang out with the crocodiles.   Dieu-Donné Gameli on Wikimedia Commons
Crocodiles waiting on the shore. (Press Photo)   http://www.ghanapedia.org/org/index.php?op...
A Paga resident strokes a local crocodile. (Press Photo)   http://www.ghanaexpeditions.com/images/reg...
Hanging with a local ancestor.   Tao Tao Holmes
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About

Along Ghana’s northern border, many villagers are inside of crocodiles. Luckily, they have not been eaten; the reptiles simply hold their souls.

In the town of Paga, nestled right up against Burkina Faso, is a sacred crocodile pond where locals believe that crocodiles hold the souls of the village’s deceased. High profile deaths in the community have even coincided with the deaths of some of the sacred crocodiles.

Ancestors’ souls or not, the crocodiles of the sacred pond in Paga are protected and allegedly as safe as any domesticated pet. The residents of Paga certainly treat them as such, regularly interacting with the 110 crocodiles in the main crocodile sanctuary, Chief’s Pond.

What's even more stunning, no one has ever been harmed by one of the crocodiles. Young children swim in the pond and Ghanaians along with tourists are invited to touch and practically play with the reptiles. The people of the town wash clothes next to the bumpy ridges of the crocodiles’ jaws without a hint of fear.

Even more remarkable than the docile nature of this crocodile population, is how these massive crocodiles made the pond their home. The pond is completely landlocked and apparently the oldest beasts in the water are over 80 years old. Yet here they are, ready and waiting for tourists to feed them live chickens, sit on them, or lift their spiny tails.

Crocodiles have been on earth for over 200 million years, even outliving the dinosaurs. And more importantly, their behavior in Paga is without comparison. For the legions of tourists seeking a wild Africa full of the world’s most impressive and dangerous beasts, Paga’s a good start to their journey.

A small fee to a local tour guide is required for interpretation and the purchase of the crocodile's live chicken dinner.

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Animals Natural Wonders Nature

Know Before You Go

Paga is North of Bolgatonga near the border of Ghana and Burkina Faso.

Community Contributors

Added By

atimian

Edited By

EricGrundhauser

  • EricGrundhauser

Published

May 11, 2011

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Sources
  • Travel to Discover Ghana: Paga Crocodile Pond: http://www.travel-to-discover-ghana.com/paga-crocodile-pond.html
  • ABC News: "Tourists Cozy Up to Crocodiles in Africa" (December 2006): http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/story?id=2741284&page=1
  • Ghana Expeditions: http://www.ghanaexpeditions.com/regions/highlight_detail.asp?id=&rdid=138
Sacred Crocodile Ponds of Paga
Paga
Ghana
10.992222, -1.113333

Nearby Places

Cour Royale de Tiébélé

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Ghana

Ghana

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Cour Royale de Tiébélé

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Bolgatanga, Ghana

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Photo of Ghana

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Places 11
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