Kachikally Crocodile Pool: Visitor Guide + Is it ethical?
Getting up close to crocodiles isn’t something most people expect to do on a trip to The Gambia. But at Kachikally Crocodile Pool, that’s exactly what happens.
This small but famous attraction is one of the most popular places to visit in The Gambia. This sacred pool is home to over 200 Nile crocodiles – and visitors are sometimes allowed to touch!
But Kachikally isn’t just a quirky tourist stop. For many Gambians, the site is spiritually important and has been used for generations for fertility and healing rituals. Locals still visit to pray, make offerings, and seek blessings from the sacred waters and crocodiles.
Of course, an attraction where tourists pose for photos with crocodiles naturally raises a big question: is Kachikally Crocodile Pool ethical to visit?
In this guide, I’ll explain what Kachikally Crocodile Pool is, how to visit, what to expect, and whether it’s actually worth your time. I’ll also share my honest thoughts after visiting, so you can decide if it’s something you feel comfortable including in your trip to The Gambia.
What is Kachikally Crocodile Pool?
Kachikally Crocodile Pool is one of the most famous (and sacred) cultural sites in The Gambia. The site centres around a small natural pool that’s home to dozens of West African Nile crocodiles.
The pool is part of a small complex that includes a shaded courtyard, a nature area around the water, and museum. Visitors typically explore the grounds with a local guide, who explains the history of the site and introduces the resident crocodiles.
Despite being ”wild animals’, the crocodiles here are strangely calm around people. Visitors are invited to sit beside or briefly touch one for a photo — something that feels surreal when you’re only a few feet from one of Africa’s most powerful reptiles.
Today, Kachikally sits somewhere between sacred site, cultural attraction, and tourist curiosity. Which is why it sparks so much debate among travellers visiting The Gambia.
Why is Kachikally Crocodile Pool Sacred?
Long before tourism arrived in The Gambia, Kachikally Crocodile Pool was already an important spiritual site for locals.
The pool is associated with fertility, healing, and protection. Many Gambians believe the crocodiles here are spiritual guardians, and the water from the pool is thought to hold special powers.
Women hoping to conceive have traditionally visited the site to perform fertility rituals, involving prayers and blessings using water from the sacred pool. It’s also used for severe illnesses or personal problems!
The site is cared for by the Bojang family, who have acted as custodians of the pool and its crocodiles for generations. Our guide said it had been over 400 years!
Where is Kachikally Crocodile Pool?
Kachikally Crocodile Pool is located in the coastal town of Bakau, on the Atlantic coast of The Gambia.
Bakau sits 12km west of the Banjul (the capital), and near the busy urban area of Serrekunda. Because of this, the crocodile pool is one of the easiest cultural attractions in The Gambia to visit, especially if you’re staying along the popular resort strip around Kololi and Senegambia.
The entrance is situated down a quiet street in the centre of Bakau, very different from the tourist areas.
Below is the exact location so you can find it on Google Maps when planning your visit.
How to visit to Kachikally Crocodile Pool
Visiting Kachikally Crocodile Pool is straightforward, especially if you’re already staying near the tourist areas of The Gambia.
Most travellers visit in one of three ways:
- Taxi (recommended): The easiest option, and what I opted for. Yellow tourist taxis are widely available and drivers will know the crocodile pool. You can either hail a taxi for a quick return trip or include it as part of a half-day of sightseeing. Expect to pay around 300D for a taxi from Kololi to the pool (one-way).
- Shared taxi: A cheaper option used by locals. These run along the main roads between towns like Serrekunda and Bakau, although you may need to walk a short distance to reach the entrance.
- With a tour: Many hotels and guides offer short excursions that include the crocodile pool along with other nearby attractions.
Because the site is relatively small, most visits last 30-60 minutes. Taxi drivers will often offer to wait until you are done. Otherwise, you can continue on to Cape Point Beach which is within walking distance.
Given the proximity to the tourist hotspots, it can get busy (especially during high season). Try to visit early in the morning or late in the day for a more peaceful experience.
- Opening times: 8am-7pm daily
- Entrance fee: 200 Dinasi
What to expect at Kachikally Crocodile Pool
After paying your 200D entrance fee, a typical visit to Kachikally Crocodile Pool starts at the entrance courtyard, where a local guide will introduce the history of the site and explain why it’s considered sacred.
Crocodile encounters around the pool
From there, you’ll walk through the shaded grounds to the pool itself, where dozens of crocodiles rest along the banks or lie motionless in the water. Despite their intimidating appearance, many of the crocodiles here are surprisingly calm around people.
After walking around the pool, you’ll reach the guides corner, where there are usually several crocodiles on land with no barrier!
The largest crocodiles weigh around 280kg, and measure 2-3m in length! Most are significantly smaller than this though, but their teeth are still sharp as anything!
Guides usually point out a few of the largest crocodiles and explain how they live at the pool. Visitors are often invited to sit beside one for photos – something that feels slightly nerve-wracking and rather questionable…
At this close proximity, you are able to touch the crocodile (not near the head) with a guide’s supervision.
We were told that they don’t bite humans and that they were so docile because they have been fed so much fish. West African Nile crocodiles are often slow creatures so this made partial sense (more on the ethics below).
Aside from the crocodiles there are several other animals around, with large egrets as well as beautiful kingfishers flying around!
Nature Trail
After visiting the pool, most tours continue through the rest of the grounds. There is a short nature-trail (probably around 200m) which circles through the woodland and past more crocodiles! Sadly, you can’t explore the remaining 9 acres of the Kachikally grounds.
On the way, you’ll pass an enormous silk cotton tree – one of the largest trees in the region! It’s actually very impressive!
It is believed by local lore to contain the spirit of the Kachikally site. And other Silk Cottons across Gambia are used as the centre point of villages as they’re seen as the trees of wisdom!
Museum
There is also a small museum on site which opened back in 2004. The museum is spread across four traditional West African huts which contain artefacts, photographs, and displays about Gambian culture and history.
You’ll end up back at Guides Corner where you can take more photos and watch the crocodiles, plus ask any of the guides questions about the crocodiles here.
As you leave, there’s a small (but well-stocked) souvenir shop offering handicrafts, musical instruments, clothing, jewellery and more. Plus a book where you can offer donations. You can also buy drinks and refreshments at a stall here or just outside.
The entire experience is short, but it’s certainly one of the most unusual attractions in The Gambia.
Is Kachikally Crocodile Pool ethical?
The ethics of visiting Kachikally Crocodile Pool is something many travellers (including myself) question. Seeing photos of visitors sitting beside natural predators like crocodiles always raises alarm bells. But there are two sides to this story.
Not ethical?
On one side, the experience feels somewhat unnatural and uncomfortable. The crocodiles are clearly used to human presence which is unnatural.
Guides encourage visitors to touch the animals for a photo which can distress animals – another red flag!
Some travellers question whether crocodiles may be sedated, however there’s no clear evidence.
However, from a visitor’s perspective, there is no way to tell with certainty. As a sceptic, I find it suspicious how close people can get to an apex predator simply because of ‘feeding fish’. Though, I’d like to think the Gambian or any other conservation authorities wouldn’t let one of Gambia’s biggest attractions do this in plain sight.
Ethical?
On the other side, the situation here is slightly different from many animal attractions. Kachikally is first and foremost a traditional sacred site, not a purpose-built wildlife park. The crocodiles have lived at the pool for generations and are protected by the local community.
The crocodiles aren’t performing tricks or being forced into shows, they are largely free to roam the grounds. They spend much of their time resting naturally around the pool, and interactions with visitors are brief and supervised.
That said, whether it feels ethical to visit Kachikally will ultimately depend on your own comfort level. Some travellers enjoy learning about the cultural traditions surrounding the site, while others prefer to observe the crocodiles from a distance without touching them.
My opinion: As a believer of ‘innocence until proven guilty’, I’m truly hoping that drugs aren’t being used to profit from these animals. Therefore I’m leaning towards saying it’s not unethical.
If you do decide to visit, the best approach is to treat the site and animals with respect, follow the guide’s instructions, and remember that it holds cultural significance for many locals in The Gambia.
FAQs
Can you touch the crocodiles?
Yes, visitors are allowed to touch the crocodiles at Kachikally Crocodile Pool. However, only under the supervision of guides.
They have a better understanding of the crocodiles and will be able to guide you on which ones to approach and how. They recommend approaching from behind, and remaining far from the head.
How many crocodiles live at Kachikally Crocodile Pool?
As of 2026, guides estimate approximately 200 crocodiles live at Kachikally Crocodile Pool.
However, this number is constantly fluctuating. When I visited, the guides told people to avoid a particular area as there were females who had recently given birth.
Are there toilets at Kachikally?
Yes, there are basic toilet facilities at the Kachikally Crocodile Pool.
How much does Kachikally Crocodile Pool cost?
The official entry cost for Kachikally Crocodile Pool is 200 Dinasi.
This covers your entrance and a guide will normally show you around and explain the site to you for this price.
Most guides will normally ask for a donation at the end to ‘feed the crocodiles’. There’s a book where people have written their names and donation amounts. It’s up to you how much you want to donate, or if you want to donate at all. I saw anything from a few hundred dinasi to a few thousand (but who knows if that’s true).
Is it worth visiting?
Whether it’s worth visiting the Kachikally Crocodile Pool largely depends on whether you personally feel comfortable with the ethics of the attraction.
- If you believe Kachikally is ethical, then 200 dinasi and a short drive from Senegambia makes this unique attraction a worthwhile visit, and a great change of pace from the resort areas.
- If you don’t, then no price will ever be worth a visit.
I still feel slightly on the fence about the experience. It’s interesting and unique, but something left me feeling off. And whilst there’s no strict evidence of sedated animals or cruelty, (and I feel like the guides genuinely respect the animals), I have to trust my gut.
Whilst I don’t regret visiting as it was interesting to learn about the history and culture of the place, I wouldn’t return, nor would I highly recommend the experience.
So if you’re curious about the Kachikally Crocodile Pool in Gambia, take some photos from a distance and see how you feel. Or visit another local, spiritual crocodile pool as an alternative.
Alternatives to Kachikally Crocodile Pool
There are several other ‘sacred’ crocodile pools in the Gambia. None are quite as large or touristy as Kachikally!
However, since crocodiles aren’t fed or used for profit, they’re likely more ethical. Fingers crossed you see some crocs!
- Folonko Crocodile Pool: Located in Kartong (here), there are less crocodiles, but it’s more spiritual.
- Berending Crocodile Pool: Located in Berending (here), there are a few more crocodiles than Folonko, but less than Kachikally.
If you’re looking for more things to do in near Kachikally Crocodile Pool, your best options are:
- Cape Point Beach
- Bijilo Monkey Park
- Kololi Beach
- Tanji Fishing Village
You can easily combine all of these with Kachikally Crocodile Pool!
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Thank you for reading my guide to Kachikally Crocodile Pool in Gambia. If guides, itineraries and travel content like this interest you, head over to my Homepage to find out more.
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