Crocodiles on the bank
Basking in the sun.
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Lac aux Caïmans is a lake in Yamoussoukro, the administrative capital of Côte d'Ivoire, home to large crocodiles. It wraps around the walls of the presidential palace that President Félix Houphouët-Boigny built in his home town. It is one of the strangest sights in the city, with people standing on the bank watching the crocodiles bask at the edge or swim slowly past. Crocodiles are linked with strength and protection in local culture, and many accounts tie them to Houphouët-Boigny's leadership. For years a dedicated keeper fed them in front of visitors, which became one of the city's best-known scenes. Feeding times and how regular they are have changed over time, so do not count on them. You see calm grey water and long Nile crocodiles with green-brown scaly skin, some lying on the stone bank with jaws open in the sun. Other heads show above the surface in the distance. On the far bank are buildings and palm trees, and beyond the walls lie the palace gardens. The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace is about 2.5 km away in a straight line. Stay behind the barriers and away from the water's edge, as the crocodiles are dangerous. Photographing the palace itself may be forbidden, so keep to the lake and follow the guards' instructions.
Basking in the sun.
In the distance.
Palms and buildings.
East-central Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire
It was well known for years, but times have changed, so ask locally.
It may be forbidden, so keep to the lake and follow the guards.