Paga is a town in northern Ghana, lying where the nation's
main north-south road reaches the Burkina Faso border, north of Bolgatanga. There are plans to extend the Kumasi-Takoradi
railway to Paga.
Paga is known for its sacred crocodile
ponds where most visitors are surprised that they can touch a
live crocodile. Paga is about three kilometers from Paga-Nania
Slave Camp, which was a transit camp used for the trading by
Hausa, Mossi and Zabarma traders. It is in the Upper East
Region of the country and has a population of over 2000 people.
Most of the inhabitants are farmers.
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 Paga.
The local people are called Kasena, and speak Kasem, which is
a Gur branch of the Niger-Congo language family. There is an
oral tradition that the founder of the town, Navee, 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'.
Paga Crocodile Pond
Have you ever wanted a close encounter with an amazingly
ancient predator? Paga Crocodile Pond is an experience you wont
soon forget.
Paga 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 persons soul. Local tradition has it
that there have been actual instances when deaths of important
personalities in the community coincided with that of some
crocodiles. The reptiles are normally enticed out of the pond by
the whistling of the caretaker and the brandishing of a fowl,
which the crocodiles quickly snatch with their snouts. If you
are courageous, you can sit on, or hold the beasts tail for a
good camera pose. The caretaker charges a fee for the fowl and
basic interpretation.
Paga is a town in northern Ghana, lying where the nation's
main north-south road reaches the Burkina Faso border, north of Bolgatanga. There are plans to extend the Kumasi-Takoradi
railway to Paga.
Paga 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 persons soul. Local tradition has it
that there have been actual instances when deaths of important
personalities in the community coincided with that of some
crocodiles. The reptiles are normally enticed out of the pond by
the whistling of the caretaker and the brandishing of a fowl,
which the crocodiles quickly snatch with their snouts. If you
are courageous, you can sit on, or hold the beasts tail for a
good camera pose. The caretaker charges a fee for the fowl and
basic interpretation.