Tunisia is one of the fashionable and popular holiday destinations of Europeans. North Africa has an unusually hot and dry climate, and a colorful and unusual country is literally crammed with various exotic novelties.
What attracts in Tunisia?
You will hardly surprise anyone with beaches, comfortable hotels and classy service; many curious tourists seek to learn as much more about the interesting sights of their vacation destination. In Tunisia, someone will be attracted by the ancient fortresses of Carthage, as the scenery from oriental tales, someone - noisy discos and casinos of resort towns. What is more remarkable Tunisia? Djerba - crocodile farm; El Jem is a true Roman coliseum; Kairouan is a holy Islamic city; Sahara desert - safaris, camels, berbers.
Palms, Berbers, Flamingos and Crocodiles
Tunisian island of Djerba is comfortable to visit all year round. Despite the presence of restaurants, casinos and night clubs, this is a place of calm and cozy relaxation. Djerba does not belong to purely resort places, permanent residents also live here. The center of the island - the colorful Houmt Souk, is already interesting in its originality, such is African Europe. In the Jewish settlement, not far from the center, there is the oldest Jewish shrine in Africa - the synagogue of El Grib. But the most unusual place on the island is the Djerba crocodile farm, which is part of the entertainment and educational center of the same name.
Park "Djerba Explorer"
The huge territory of the park of 12 hectares is not only the crocodile farm of Djerba, although it is associated with this reserve more often. Here you can live, dine and spend the whole day. The structure of the park includes, in addition to the crocodile dwelling, a residential complex with a five-star hotel, a national restaurant, a cafe and a souvenir market in a small Tunisian village; Museum of folk crafts and traditional life.
Peers dinosaurs
Crocodiles are one of those animals whose ancestors lived in the same form during the reign of the dinosaurs. The largest are the Nile crocodiles, which inhabit the island of Djerba. A crocodile farm can show some individuals that are 5 meters long. The weight of an adult reptile is from 270 to 900 kg. In the natural habitat for the entire time of observation, instances of up to 7 m in length and weighing about a ton were recorded. Despite their huge size, crocodiles do not eat as much as it would seem at first glance, and can do without food for a long time.
Reptiles begin to breed from the age of 8-12 years, with the help of eggs. The masonry on average contains about 40 pieces of eggs, which the female buries in the sand and constantly keeps in sight. Newborn crocodiles 29 cm long appear after three months.
Why protect crocodiles?
In the natural habitat, the crocodile is not afraid of anyone. There is no animal that could compete with him in strength, agility, and speed of reaction, especially in water. The danger lies in wait for the king of African reservoirs on one side only - from man.
There was a period, somewhere in the 40s and 60s of the 20th century, when the mass extermination of crocodiles threatened the existence of this species on the planet in general. The reason for this was a very valuable and expensive crocodile leather, products from which belong to branded things of considerable value. Moreover, at that time, rumors spread about the allegedly healing properties of some organs of the crocodile, and the fashion for drugs from them came. The situation required the intervention of animal welfare authorities, and a crocodile farm was set up in Djerba, which brought the surviving reptiles, mainly from Madagascar.
Weekdays of the reserve
Crocodile Reserve is not a purely tourist attraction, a research center for the study of these animals works here. Now there live 1200 crocodile individuals whose lives can be envied. A graceful pastime: you do not need to take care of bread, that is, daily meat, to be afraid and hide too. Animals are not raised here for meat and skin. Djerba Crocodile Farm is a nature reserve, a visit to which is included in all excursions in Tunisia. Where else can you see so many fattened huge predators basking in the sun, and at the same time feel completely safe. Tourists watch animals from special bridges - crossings. An incubator in which crocodiles are born, and a special crocodile “kindergarten”, in which you can not only look at the kids, but also hold them in your hands, are available for free access. Usually, of all the impressions of Tunisia, one of the most striking is the Djerba crocodile farm. The entrance fee is 12 dinars for an adult and 6 for children (1 dinar - 29.4 rubles). A particularly striking sight, without which the tour is not considered complete - is feeding reptiles. Impressive and lazy, good-natured-looking sleepy crocodiles turn on their prey instinct and at that moment show all their predatory qualities. For a fee, you can even personally participate in this procedure.
Crocodile farm, Djerba: reviews
Travel and special sites usually give a general idea of the object of interest to us. Another thing is the experience of eyewitnesses, because everyone sees the same subject from different points of view. What are tourists focusing on after visiting a crocodile nursery?
- In the winter months, crocodiles are fed only twice a week - they are indigestible from the cold. African cold is a very relative concept, do not be alarmed. If you want to look at feeding, find out in advance about these days.
- Feeding is a real reality show! Interesting and scary.
- A cozy area, there is something to see and where to go.
- You can walk or ride a taxi yourself, without an excursion, it will be cheaper and fewer people - this is the main advice from visitors.
- It is interesting to take pictures with little crocodiles (it's free).
- The farm is especially admired in children.
- Not only a crocodile farm is interesting, but also a museum of national life.
- To whom and where it lives well - so the crocodiles in Djerba - no worries, their living conditions can be envied.
- Without an excursion to the Dzherba Explore park, the impression of a vacation spot is incomplete. This applies not only to crocodiles, but to the whole complex as a whole.