Indiana Jones has often found himself in precarious situations, including being trapped in a pit of snakes, being chased by creepy crawlers trapped in deadly booby traps, or receiving a passionate slap from a former flame that has gone out.
But one scenario that could not escape the famous fictional archaeologist was finding himself in a sacred park surrounded by dozens of West African crocodiles. I am proud to say that I successfully survived a 7-day river cruise on the Gambia River. Various cruises.
And unlike Jones' disaster, the visit to the Kachikally Crocodile Pool and Museum did not feature any kind of horrific escape, but instead sparked a desire to return to the unique wildlife and community sanctuary.
Kachikali, located in Bakau, a town just outside the capital Banjul, is a unique place to visit in The Gambia. And as the name suggests, there are tons of crocodiles living there.
The park is home to more than 80 West African alligators of various sizes and ages, some as many as 76, reaching 8 to 10 feet in length and weighing up to 1,000 pounds.
The colorful entrance to Kachikally in Bakau, Gambia. Photo Credit: Nicole Edenedo
While you might imagine a pool enclosure housing dozens of alligators, complete with clearly marked barriers to keep guests on one side and the alligators on the other, this park has none of that.
Kachikally's claim to fame among tourists is that it is a completely open park where crocodiles roam freely, walking along the same footpaths and catching the same shade as visitors.
This means that traversing Kachikally is a task that must be done carefully to avoid accidentally stepping on a crocodile's tail or tripping over the more dangerous end of the reptile – its snout. Therefore, running through the park, which is a relatively small outdoor forest, is definitely not recommended. (And if your clients are like me, you probably have to fight the urge to head for the hills every time you see an alligator moving.)
Of course, tourists can actually pet the crocodiles they encounter in the park with the guidance of park staff.
River Cruises Editor Nicole Edenedo toured the Kachikally Crocodile Pool during a call about Variety Cruises' West African river itineraries, which operate partially on the Gambia River.
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Moses Bajo, spokesperson for Kachikally and a dedicated crocodile manager, said these aspects are what have made Kachikally a popular tourist attraction in The Gambia.
“I think a lot of people are very nervous because most people don’t expect alligators to be out this wild and free,” Bajo said. “Most people in Western countries are used to seeing alligators behind glass. So when you come out and see an alligator like this, people always ask the same question: Is it real? And I have to make sure it's real. Really.”
Bajo even demonstrated to me how he proves it. He gently pinched the tail of the alligator we were crouching next to, which made the big guy squirm. (Sure, but I had the urge to get back up and run before I remembered that it probably wasn't the best idea.)
“We got as close to the crocodiles as we could,” Bajo said. “Why not get the chance to touch them if we can here?”
Bajo provides Variety Cruises guests with guidance on how to interact with the reptiles. Photo Credit: Nicole Edenedo
healing power of pond
Even more interesting than Kachikally's status as a tourist destination is its centuries-long history as a sacred site.
“The crocodiles are one of the attractions for tourists, but this has always been a sacred pond,” Bajo said. “So we preserve it.”
Bajo said Kachikally is over 300 years old. The water in the pools used by alligators is said to have healing properties, especially for women and couples struggling with infertility issues. Bajo explained that women who are having trouble conceiving sometimes come to the park with some sort of offering in their hands and ask for water taken from the crocodile pool to be used for bathing at the Kachikally facility.
According to the Gambia National Center for Arts and Culture, people come to Kachikali for problems and illnesses other than reproductive issues, including those trying to reverse business misfortune and parents trying to protect their children.
“Spiritually it is very powerful, so we call it a healing force,” Bajo said. “Women come here to use the pool water. It helps couples who are trying to have a baby wash themselves. There is evidence that it helps.”
Regardless of why someone visits Kachikally, Bajo said it's a good experience for everyone and good for the country. “We promote Gambia wherever we go, so people will say, ‘We went to Gambia and here we are.’” If you say, ‘Where you can touch an alligator,’ your friends will want to come,” he said.
