Paga Crocodile Pond

Ghana boasts of beautiful and amazing crocodile ponds. Welcome to the crocodile ponds located at Guree, Kulmasa and Kaleo in the upper west region of Ghana. These ponds are homes to over 100 crocodiles considered special by its local community. The region boasts of spectacular exhibitions of wildlife and wide expanse of untamed savanna filled with rich tradition and history.

History of the Kulmasa and Kaleo Crocodile Ponds

The locals of the Kulmasa and Kaleo tell great stories about the crocodiles that live in the ponds and how sacred they are to their culture. The crocodiles have been a totem of the people since the establishment of these communities. They have passed on stories from generation to generation about how the founder of Kulmasa escaped Burkina Faso by riding on the back of a crocodile. The locals strongly believe that the crocodiles warn them of impending danger in the community by leaving the pond to stay with the locals in the village. The tour guides of the area perform specific rituals to call the crocodiles to land when people visit. These stories are not only intriguing but offer the enticement of adventure to tourists from all over the world.

Some stories

Locals believe that a crocodile brought a dying man to the pond to drink, and that after surviving, the man declared the pond sacred and that no harm should come to the crocodiles. They claim that the crocodile legend dates back about 600 years. Another story tells of a man who was trapped by a lion at the water's edge and bargained with a crocodile that none of his children would harm his kind if he killed the lion. Other sources claimed that during colonization, a young man fled for freedom and was helped by the crocodile to find sanctuary, so he allowed the crocodiles to coexist in the ponds with him. They believe that when the people of Paga die, their souls are reincarnated in these crocodiles, so the pond is sacred. In Paga, it is illegal to kill crocodiles or consume crocodile meat.

Exploring

Visiting the ponds serve as an opportunity to immerse yourself into a different culture. This journey makes it possible to have a closer look at the crocodiles which are believed to be sacred and given respect. The stories and myths about the ponds will provide you with insights you never knew about these crocodiles. Tasting the local diches of its people will plunge you into the great cuisines of Ghanaians. The surface of the ponds attract different kinds of birds providing an amazing birdwatching.

Getting up close

Visitors to Paga can sit, touch, and take photographs with the crocodiles. The crocodiles mostly roam freely in the pond, and they are drawn out by a caretaker's whistle or lured by the sound of a chicken. After the guide has fed them a chicken, tourists can take photographs while holding the crocodile's tails. It's comforting to know that none of the crocodiles have ever harmed anyone. Young children swim in the pond, and both Ghanaians and tourists are invited to touch and play with the reptiles. The residents of the town wash their clothes next to the crocodiles, without any fear.

Tourist attractions near the ponds

Tourist attractions in the area include:

• Pikworo or Paga-Nania slave camp
• Nakori Mosque .
• Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary.
• Mystery dam of Kayoro called Kukula.
• Nasaga Game Reserve, eight kilometers away from Burkina-Faso and Paga.

Also in the Nadowli Kaleo district where the Kaleo crocodile pond is found other tourist sites are located including:

• Rocks and Caves at Sankam
• Game and Wildlife reserve at Zupri 
• Gure Porcupine Sanctuary.
• Chari-Naribo Hippo Sanctuary near the Black Volta at Kukere.

Planning and Tips for Travelling

Planning for these trips should not be difficult since it follows the routine approach for a road trip. Remember to pack lightweight essential clothing and cosmetics since the journey to these tourist sites are long when travelling from the South, heavy bags will be a burden to load on and off vehicles, keep snacks for the road and always have change on you because electronic cash options may not be available. To prevent inconveniences and for the best experience always pre-book tour guides from the country’s tourism authority’s sanctioned touring companies, several of which you can also find in the Tour Guide section on our site.