#1 Parc Crocodile De Bazoule GPS 12.324618, -1.714840

Just 20 Kilometers Southwest of Ouagadougou by the village of Bazoule you will find my first must see adventure, Parc Crocodile De Bazoule.

If you have ever wanted to feed a chicken to a crocodile or get up close and personal to a large crocodile this is a must see destination and one of my favorite places in Burkina Faso. For 1500CFA($2.78) a guide will take you to the small lake and take your picture setting on or touching a large Crocodile. For an additional 2000CFA($3.70) they will feed the crocodile a chicken and make it jump. You cannot buy this kid of experience in the US, with no fences and easy going guides you can get up close and personal to Crocodiles like most people will never get to experience.

The park has a restaurant appropriately named Crocodile restaurant. There is another restaurant right before you enter the park that was not open during the times I went there. The Crocodile restaurant is a little more expensive than a regular restaurant in Burkina.

To get to Crocodile Park you take NR1 SW towards Bobo from Ouagadougou, you have to take a dirt road off National Highway 1. There are signs pointing the way but there are several intersections without signs so you need good intuition or GPS. The turn for the park off N1 is right at a new gas station. If you speak French you will have no problem getting directions from the locals as everyone will know what you are talking about.

The legend goes that the Crocodiles in the park are Sacred and will not harm humans. Several hundred years ago the legend goes that the crocodiles led the local villagers to the Lake during a drought. The Crocodiles are indeed very placid, and will allow you to touch them, lay on them and lift up their tails and feet. Although the guide did tell me that one of the larger Crocodiles is dangerous and kept us away from that particular one.

I have been to this Park several times and it seems to be open until dark. There was always guides there, although if someone else got there before you the guide may already be at the lake.