Apart from the beaches, temples, churches, shacks and alcohol, nature trips are also very popular in Goa.
These include Dudhasagar waterfall trip, spice farm tour, Tamdi surla waterfall trip, dolphin trips, butterfly trips, and bird watching trips and many more. Another interesting thing to do is, go spotting for crocodiles in the Zuari River in a relaxing ride; especially in the smaller boat. Crocodile watching in Goa is something you will never forget for rest of your life.
The Cumbarjua channel off the Zuari River in Goa is the habitat of these crocodiles. The Cumbarjua channel has a rich mangrove habitat which serves as a hatching ground for fishes, prawns, and mollusks. This rich marine-life- ecosystem is the reason for a healthy population of birdlife and crocodiles in Goa.
The population of crocodiles in the Cumbarjua canal is currently estimated to be around 40-50. The canal is a 15 km long stretch of water located about 20 minutes drive away from Panaji which is the capital of Goa. It connects the two largest rivers in Goa – the Zuari and Mandovi.
The crocodiles that can be seen are marsh muggers, a unique species that has the broadest snout of any living member of the genus Crocodylus and are adapted to the salt water habitat in Goa.
The crocodiles of Cumbarjua are used to human presence. If anybody tries to go close to the crocodile
they just jump into the water and move away. These crocodiles are cold-blooded animal means they cannot control their own body temperature and need to spend a lot of time in the sun, well camouflaged on the mud banks.
Many boat trips are conducted regularly by different tour operators. They do these trips on boats that can carry about 12 to 40 people, from Old Goa. During this boat ride, you will also get a chance to see a wide range of birds. A guide in the boat will be explaining and pointing out to the attractions as you go along. This Tour can be booked on Goa Tour Packages Website
Month of operation
- November to May
What to get along?
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- Camera
Pricing:
- Rs.1000 to 2000/- per person(depending on the tour operator)
Check Local Boat Booking – Goa