A Crocodile Pond (What is Herptophobia?)

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From Navrongo, i made my way to Paga. Paga is a border town on the north eastern boundary of Ghana. It is famed for it crocodile pond among other tourism sites. Therefore upon reaching, the first place i went to was the crocodile pond just to continue the cliche.

Entrance of the Pond

I located this tourism center rather easily, because it is right in the middle of town. I board a shared taxi from Navrongo which cost about 2 cedis. The taxi made a stop in front of the pond. After paying an entrance fee of 10 cedis (10 cedis is for nationals entrance fee differ for non nationals and kids) i entered the fenced pond.

The pond does not look big but was informed by our tour guide it has upwards of 200 crocodiles

Legend has it that the first person who settled in the town wanted to cross the pond which was huge at that time and these crocodiles helped him cross therefore there was a personal bond between him and the crocodiles and this bond has evolved to 'spiritual'. It is believed in Paga that when ancestor dies they metamorphose into one of the crocodile in the pond. At night some of these crocodiles go to various houses in town and if a crocodile comes to a house it is believed to be an ancestor. 

One thing that really caught my attention was how cattle were drinking from the pond ( though fenced had an openning on the far left) without being harmed by the crocodiles. It seemingly went to corroborate the story or the ancestral bond between the crocodiles and the indigenes of Paga. This was truly an experience

This fella was following us everywhere

I wasn't the only one at the crocodile pond that day i was joined by other people who had come to also see the crocodiles. After the tour guide showing us around and giving us the history he now asked "who will be first to hold the crocodiles tail for a picture?' That is when we all realised we were battling Herptophobia

Tour guide, he is a 'gunner'

We all became fast friends based on our collective fear of crocodiles

If you enjoyed this post and would love to visit the Paga crocodile pond click here for all the information you need about transport. lodging and dinning..