Nicole Edenedo
West African crocodiles at Kachikally Crocodile Pool in Bakau, a city simply exterior the Gambia’s capital metropolis of Banjul, are a lot much less more likely to eat you in the event that they’ve already had a hearty meal very first thing within the morning.
That is as a result of Moses Bajo, Kachikally’s media spokesperson and devoted caretaker of the park’s reptiles, says that each morning earlier than the privately run, donation-funded wildlife park opens, he is answerable for feeding the crocs and conserving them joyful with the intention to allow the park’s every day inflow of vacationers to roam free in regards to the grounds as they appear to pet and pose with these creatures.
Fish is a specific sort of insurance coverage towards vacationers trying like breakfast, lunch or dinner to Kachikally’s crocodiles.
“Each morning, I feed these crocodiles fish. They solely eat fish,” Bajo mentioned. “No beef, no rooster, no pink meat, as a result of in the event that they eat that, they’ll grow to be aggressive and that may entice them to go after folks.”
I discovered myself at Kachikally earlier this 12 months throughout a name on Selection Cruises’ seven-night West Africa river itinerary, which operates partially on the Gambia River. And so far as shore excursions go, this one definitely takes the cake so far as off-the-beaten-path experiences go.
Kachikally’s pescatarian crocodiles, a few of whom Bajo mentioned are as previous as 76, measure out to about two-and-a-half meters in size and might weigh as a lot as a thousand kilos.
They don’t seem to be saved in conventional enclosures that most individuals is likely to be used to seeing such animals in, like these in a zoo or a sanctuary.
There are not any ropes, stanchions or every other sort of demarcation letting company know which facet of the park they need to safely keep on.
Excursions editor Nicole Edenedo will get up-close and private with a crocodile at Kachikally Crocodile Pool throughout a name on Selection Cruises’ West Africa itinerary. Photograph Credit score: Courtesy of Nicole Edenedo
As an alternative, as Bajo says, security is inherent at Kachikally, even because the crocodiles roam as freely because the company do, strolling the identical footpaths they do and catching the identical spots of shade as guests do on a sizzling, dry season’s day on the park.
Crocodiles in actual life
I marveled at the truth that I used to be standing toe to toe (or relatively, toe to tail) with these scary trying however in any other case seemingly docile reptiles.
I remembered the years I spent watching Nationwide Geographic wildlife packages; irrespective of how high-def the TV display or how crisp the close-up pictures, nothing ready me for the extent of element I might see as I stood hovering close to one of many extra medium-sized crocs at Kachikally.
Admittedly, I used to be extremely nervous to maneuver in nearer; I discovered that each time I motioned to bend down to the touch one, a shudder would come over me and I’d leap away squealing.
However lastly I labored up the nerve. I began off with one finger very reluctantly touching one of many scales. I anticipated to really feel a texture that was tough sufficient to unnerve me much more, however I used to be stunned to find how smooth it was and, dare I say, squishy.
The best way to pet a crocodile
The very best and most secure option to strategy a crocodile at Kachikally, Bajo says, is from the again on the tail. As he and I crouched down over one of many crocs from behind, Bajo confirmed me the method he takes guests by means of on the park, beginning with a light-weight petting on the finish of the tail, then easing in nearer to the croc’s midsection. This manner, they are not startled by the contact.
Each every now and then, the crocs may nudge their heads a short time being petted, and whereas this may ship a customer operating for the hills (as I did), Bajo reassured me that that is pure and never trigger for concern.
The golden rule at Kachikally is to by no means strategy a crocodile from the entrance, close to its head, as Bajo says doing so can startle and agitate them.
Friends at Kachikally Crocodile Pool in Banjul, the Gambia. Photograph Credit score: Nicole Edenedo
“By no means strategy them from the entrance, as a result of they won’t know what you are doing,” Bajo mentioned. “So all the time be behind them. Begin from the again after which the tail, after which the abdomen.”
As Bajo began rubbing the crocodile’s stomach and its head started to maneuver, I might really feel I used to be virtually beginning to like the massive man. He isn’t so unhealthy, I believed. Positive, he is terrifying, however I suppose even crocodiles cannot resist the pleasure of stomach rub.
Selection Cruises’ Rivers of Gambia & Senegal run from late December by means of February. The road gives two variations of the itinerary, with roundtrip sailings from Dakar, Senegal and Banjul.
