Paga Crocodile Ponds (Upper East region of Ghana)
Paga Crocodile Ponds
Parks and Nature Reserves, Wild Life & Tours Paga is the capital of Kassena Nankana West District, a district in the Upper East region of north Ghana. The town is located on the border of Burkina Faso and is 166km south of Ouagadougou via the N5 highway, the main road linking Ghana and Burkina Faso.
Paga is known for its sacred crocodile ponds, where most visitors are surprised that they can touch a life crocodile. |
Paga is a small town, and has a population of about 10,000 people in the township.However, the entire population of Paga- including its outskirts- is over 100,000. Most of the inhabitants are farmers of the Kassena ethnic group, whose settlements and familial ties stretch over the colonial borders of Ghana into what is now Burkina Faso. The idea of different nationalities mean little to these people, who see their shared ancestry and ethnicity before what is the recent concept of nationality or religion. Many Kassenas in this small town Paga are multilingual, speaking their native Kasem and English among other languages.
Paga Crocodile PONDS - As there are about 4 different Ponds in Paga, bring time with you and "shop" around, as each pond is charging a different fee!
All ponds are by Ghana law required, to display entrance and other fees! If you are ask to pay for a chicken..
All ponds are by Ghana law required, to display entrance and other fees! If you are ask to pay for a chicken..
Please make SURE, you get that chicken, as they are very smart and sell the same chicken to a group of visitors, a few times (And ceep the "change" in their pockets!! Ask also alltime for your NEW visitor ticket, as they often keep thr entrance fee rather in their own pockets, which is actually harming Ghana`s development!
The history of the crocodiles of Paga is tied to Nave (Nah-vey`), paga`s patriarch and founder. Nave`s story goes back more than a dozen generations to Tampela and Kampala in the present day Burkina Faso and begins with Nave`s father, Prince Panlogo. Upon his father`s death, Panlogo contested for the position of Pio (chief) but lost to his junior brother.
According to legend, Paga was founded c.1400 by a young man called Naveh, who was saved by a crocodile while on a hunting expedition.
He then left his village and settled in the place which is now called Paga. The founder of the town, Naveh, when searching for a desirable place to settle, exclaimed 'Ayipaga' which means 'My eye is fixed on this land'. The place came to be called by that name, which in due course was shortened to 'Paga'. |
Advertisement
|
Dissatisfied with this turn of events, Panlogo left his sympatizers to the land of Tampela. People who supported his brother followed and the dispute escaleted into violence. Panlogo and his people fled the hostilities on horseback, and the enemy gave chase.
Panlogo and his followers came to a raging river with no means of crossing the water. In the midst of their desperation, the people saw a crocodile at the water`s edge. Panlogo`s peole believed the spirits of their ancestors resided in crocodiles. Sensing that this was no ordinary crocodile, Panlogo approched the animal and pleaded for help crossing the river.
Panlogo and his followers came to a raging river with no means of crossing the water. In the midst of their desperation, the people saw a crocodile at the water`s edge. Panlogo`s peole believed the spirits of their ancestors resided in crocodiles. Sensing that this was no ordinary crocodile, Panlogo approched the animal and pleaded for help crossing the river.
In beseeching the crocodile, Panlogo swore that in return for it`s support, from this time forward, neither he nor his followers or decendants would kill or harm any crocodile or eat it`s flesh. - (c) This text is ONLY available here, at Ghana-Net.com and at ghanaliveradio.sharepoint.com
Just beside the Paga Ponds, you will fine some few places, where you can have some food. Prices are not as cheap, as other places, but still OK. Serving times not the fastest, especially in the morning. Be aware, that there are not always (WC) Toilets offered, but just an simple place...
The choice of food is mainly Ghanaian style, like rice and chicken, and dishes of Northern Ghana. A choice of hot or / and cold drink is usually offered, which may include, but not limited, Coffee (Ness), Tea, Fanta, Pepsi, Coke or water.
Always check the prices, before you order!
Close to the main road, leading to Burkina Faso, you find an Museum alike, small village including some very, old traditional buildings! Very recommended, to visit this place!
The choice of food is mainly Ghanaian style, like rice and chicken, and dishes of Northern Ghana. A choice of hot or / and cold drink is usually offered, which may include, but not limited, Coffee (Ness), Tea, Fanta, Pepsi, Coke or water.
Always check the prices, before you order!
Close to the main road, leading to Burkina Faso, you find an Museum alike, small village including some very, old traditional buildings! Very recommended, to visit this place!
Paga Crocodile Pond In Danger (The Sun - Ghana, Sept. 2009)
Paga is a very small town with its own market North of Navrongo right on the Ghana/Burkina Faso border. It is noted for its sacred pond, which is a sanctuary for crocodiles.
The crocodiles are said to be totems for the people of Kassena who reside in Paga and the surrounding communities. It is believed that each native of Paga has a corresponding crocodile representing each person's soul.
The crocodiles are said to be totems for the people of Kassena who reside in Paga and the surrounding communities. It is believed that each native of Paga has a corresponding crocodile representing each person's soul.
Speaking to THE SUN in an interview one of the guards MR. Salifu Awewozem said that the existence of the pond is because of the torrential rains experienced for the past three years. One of the crocodiles which he said is ninety years old and many other of it type needs special feeding to keep them alive. Mr. Awewozem said the only source of feeding the crocodiles is when visitors buy fowls to attract them which he noted is not enough. He therefore appealed to government, friends of animals and other organizations to assist keep and sustain the existence of the crocodile pond.
Advertisement
Search 3 of our sites: ghana-net.com, ghananet.co.uk and ghanawebnews.online
Search ghana-net.com OR ghanaweb-news.com (ONLY)
Radio Live Pages |
Ghana Info Pages |
More Ghana Links
British Gold Coast (Many pictures shown!)
Fort Batenstein (full info website) Logbuch.Ghana-net.net (Deutsch) GhanaHotels.biz (400 + Hotels) All Towns of Ghana, by Region A - Z Preventive child health inequality 1283 private health institutions in Ghana |
Welcome to Ghana! Akwaaba!
Ghana-Net.com is one of Ghana`s oldest websites, with tourism information`s about Ghana, Live Radio, life and culture of of all Ghana Nation`s, and tribes - like Ga people, Fante, Ewe, Ashanti, Dagbani, Frafra, Krobo and many other tribes and kingdoms of Ghana.
Ghana-Net.com 1st time online late December 2000, and updated since 2001 !
Ghana-Net.com is one of Ghana`s oldest websites, with tourism information`s about Ghana, Live Radio, life and culture of of all Ghana Nation`s, and tribes - like Ga people, Fante, Ewe, Ashanti, Dagbani, Frafra, Krobo and many other tribes and kingdoms of Ghana.
Ghana-Net.com 1st time online late December 2000, and updated since 2001 !
Ghana-Net.com - connected with; GhanaRadio.online /
GhanaMirror.com / GhanaWeb-News.com / GhanaMirror.uk / GhanaHotels.biz / GhanaFlights.info /
GhanaMirror.com / GhanaWeb-News.com / GhanaMirror.uk / GhanaHotels.biz / GhanaFlights.info /
Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions and Disclaimer / Services / Contact Us / (c) by ghana-net.com 2000- 2019