Fun-day with reptiles

It’s such a spectacle to view a reptile at closer quarters. Probably even touch it. Imagine yourself on the banks of a crocodile infested river somewhere in the African wild. And you are standing 3ft from a fierce and menacing looking, 2m long crocodile. Well, that’s just about the experience, if you visit the Mamba Village. Located in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, Mamba village is home to scores of crocodiles, big and small, young and old. It is one of the places you must visit while on a Nairobi excursion.

Near the entrance, a caged pond hosts about 20 young ones. They lie around looking so innocent. It is just hard to believe that they will one day grow to be fierce killers, like we well know of our scaly counterparts. A guide jumps across the 1m high meshed wall into the cage and gets hold of one. He gets hold of it by both hands near the head and the tail. He then moves closer to the cage’s wall where tourists are watching and acts as if to throw the young crocodile at the crowd. People move back amidst fear and laughter. He then welcomes all to touch the reptile. Its skin is soft like a leather jacket. Not what you’d have had in mind. Its teeth are so minute, but still look dangerous. A saw of a kind. The guide explains that the 2ft long young one is 12 years old! You are left wondering how old the elder ones are.

We move on to a cage with bigger and older ones. There are over 20 in one cage alone. Another guide is explaining the difference between a crocodile and an alligator. An alligator has a wide snout which is U-shaped, while a crocodile has a long, narrow V-shaped snout. In addition, a crocodile’s teeth are always visible even with its mouth closed which is not the case with an alligator’s.

One just looks at the sight with a mixture of awe and excitement. One crocodile is submerged in water with only its snout and upper side of its head outside. Robert, my travel companion says it looks like a log. True enough. Others lie on the concrete floor, their eyes fixed into the distance. One can swear that they are lost in thought.

A sign board says that feeding time is at 4.30pm. It’s an hour till then. Too bad we have other places to go to and hence we’ll miss the show. We then take a walk around. There is a large pond and visitors are riding boats that are propelled by the act of cycling. It seems so much fun. We take photos by the pond. These are moments that have to go on record.

Next to the pond, there is a shop selling African Art. In the distance, there is a balloon tab and children are having fun in its shallow water. It’s time for us to leave. It was such a great time. We will definitely be coming back.