The Paga, also known as Zenga Crocodile Ponds, is one of the most well-known tourist destinations in Ghana. This place is home to a species of West African crocodiles, which are known for their friendly nature. Visitors can get up close to these reptiles without feeling threatened.

The West African crocodile, scientifically known as Crocodylus suchus, is a reptile with long scaly bodies, short limbs, and long muscular tails. These features help them to push through the water with ease. The coloration of these crocodiles is generally brown to olive. The eyes, ears, and nostrils are located on top of the head, allowing the crocodile to remain almost totally submerged and hidden from prey. They have good night vision and excellent hearing abilities. West African crocodiles are carnivores and feed on a variety of fish, amphibians, birds, and land mammals.

There are many myths surrounding the Sacred Crocodile Pond. One of these stories dates back about 600 years. According to the legend, a man was being chased by a wild animal and found himself cornered between the predator and a crocodile at the edge of the pond. The man then made a promise to the crocodile that his future generations would never harm any of its kind again if the reptile saved him from the predator. The crocodile kindly obliged and saved the man from harm. Since then, the locals of Paga have considered the crocodiles in the pond as their totems. Some even believe that the Paga crocodiles hold the souls of the deceased and that some births coincide with crocodile deaths.

The Upper East region serves as the gateway into Ghana from Burkina Faso and has been a historic crossroads for the trans-Saharan trade routes. The region is mainly composed of broad savannah grasslands, decorated with Baobab trees. In the villages, you can explore traditional round huts that have been the centre for communal activities for generations. Bolgatanga, in particular, is famous for the sale of traditional handicrafts such as baskets, straw hats, leather artifacts, and metallic jewellery.

One of the attractions of a tour to the Paga Sacred Ponds is the opportunity to experience the ghostly whistling and drumming Tongo Rocks at Pwalugu and Chiana. Other places worth visiting include the wall decoration at Tilli, the Tongu Hills and Shrine, the Sirigu Traditional Pottery, Arts and Architecture, and the Naa Gbewaa Shrine. A tour of the chief's compound is also an interesting experience. Tourists can also enjoy a general village tour and participate in singing and dancing to some unique traditional tunes from the Upper East region.

REFERENCE

Information from https://viewghana.com/the-upper-east-region-of-ghana/, https://visitghana.com/attractions/paga-crocodile-pond-slave-camp/

https://www.pulse.com.gh/ece-frontpage/feature-in-ghanas-paga-ponds-kids-swim-alongside-friendly-crocodiles/qncxlpt and https://animalia.bio/west-african-crocodile?taxonomy=143 was used in this story