Visit The Gambia for a historical look at a bygone British Empire

The Gambia is a narrow strip of a country and is the smallest (only 48 km wide) on the African continent, officially known as the Republic of The Gambia, but generally referred to as The Gambia. It is bordered to the north, east and south by Senegal, and has a small coastline on the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The Gambia River is the main landmark of the country and the main source of irrigation, it flows through the center of the country and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The Gambia was formerly part of the British Empire, but gained its independence in 1965.

On July 22, 1994, a bloodless military coup took place in the capital, Banjul. The then President Dawda Jawara was overthrown and replaced by the country’s current President Yahya Jammeh. Arco 22 was built as the gateway to the capital to honor this occasion. This 35 m high gate is located in the middle of an open square and houses a textile museum.

The climate in The Gambia is subtropical with hot and cold seasons. A hot and humid climate prevails for most of the year with rains from June to October. The highest temperatures during this time can reach around 43˚C with lower temperatures in areas near the sea. The cool season is from November to May with continuous dry weather, with temperatures as low as 16°C in and around Banjul.

The Gambia has a wide range of natural and historical heritage to discover apart from the glorious sandy beaches, such as: forts, historic cities and towns, forests, national parks, ancient ruins, museums, historical monuments and wildlife. The Gambia’s beaches are sandy and not particularly crowded, and the main beaches are located in the tourist areas. However, remember that The Gambia is a Muslim country and you should dress accordingly away from the beach, swimming pools or tourist areas.

Cape Point has a wonderful large sandy beach and there is a water sports center at the Sun Beach Hotel offering activities such as jet skiing, canoeing, windsurfing and sailing.

The Gambia is a bird watcher’s delight and attracts bird enthusiasts from all over the world. There are over 500 different species of birds in what is considered a comparatively small area and many birders return each year.

Wrestling is the national sport in The Gambia and is commonly known as “Borreh”. During each fight, the musicians beat drums until one man is pinned to the ground on his back. The winner then surrounds the crowd in a victory dance after each session to collect money for his success.

Attractions in the capital Banjul include the lively Albert Market, which sells a variety of goods including local handicrafts. The National Museum of The Gambia displays some very interesting and informative maps and texts with reference to archaeology, African culture and the colonial era.

The Abuko Nature Reserve is the oldest protected area in The Gambia; is located on the outskirts of the village of Lamin, in the northern district of Kombo, about 25 km from Banjul. It covers about 180 acres of land and is a perfect location that attracts numerous species of exotic birds and wild animals such as crocodiles, hyenas, antelopes, lizards, and monkeys. There are more than 50 varieties of trees and the reserve also protects and conserves a large area of ​​gallery forest.

The Brikama Woodcarving Center offers an insight into woodcarving production and artisans can occasionally be seen at work. A fantastic range of wood carvings and souvenirs can be purchased at a fair price.

Makasutu is a palm grove situated on the banks of a pretty winding tributary of the Gambia River (Mandina bolong), not far from Brikama. It is a mix of several diverse ecosystems with dense forests, savannah regions, and mangroves. Numerous varieties of birds inhabit the area, monkeys, monitor lizards, pygmy deer and perhaps even baboons are also among the wildlife found there.

Kiang West National Park (KWNP) is located in the Lower River Division in Kiang West District, about 145 km from Banjul and covers an area of ​​about 11,000 hectares. In 1987, it was established as a National Park. Dry deciduous forest and guinea savannah cover most of the park; there are wide stretches of mangrove streams and tidal flats. West African manatees, otters, sitatunga and roan antelope have been sighted. In addition, more than 300 species of birds have been sighted in the park.

The Bao Bolon Wetland Reserve is located on the north bank of the Gambia River, opposite the Kiang West National Park. Bao Bolon has four main ecosystems: estuary, bushveld, salt marsh, and mangrove. Crocodiles, clawless otters, wild boars, hyenas and jackals are among the wildlife. The birdlife is exceptionally good there, and some rare species such as the goliath heron can be seen. You can reach this reserve by taking a river boat trip from Tendaba.

The Gambia River National Park (Baboon Island) is home to the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Fund and is the longest running chimpanzee rehabilitation project in Africa, dating back to 1969. The fund gives orphaned chimpanzees the opportunity to grow and prosper in their natural habitat instead of an unthinkable destination. .

James Island is located in the middle of the Gambia River, about 25 km upriver from Barra. Fort James was originally built in the 1650s and was destroyed and later rebuilt several times during battles between the British and the French, now in ruins. The fort was abandoned in 1779 when Britain withdrew from the slave trade. The island is affected by heavy erosion and is now only a fraction of its original size. The ruins of many of the British administrative buildings have now been protected from further erosion, but as the island is very low-lying and vulnerable to flooding, the buildings are battered by waves. It is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The British-built Fort Bullen is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located on the north bank of the river at Barra Point, opposite Banjul. The fort was built around 1926 to protect the Gambia River trade route and defend against any attack on what was formerly Bathurst (now Banjul). Fort Bullen was once again used as an observation post and artillery base by the British Army during World War II to protect against possible attacks.

Janjangbureh is located on the north side of MacCarthy Island and has ferry services from the north shore and the south shore. It was known as Georgetown in colonial times and was a busy and prosperous administrative center filled with grandiose buildings. Today it has a more relaxed atmosphere. The old commissioners’ quarters, post office, police station, slave house, market and restaurants are very close to each other.

There are around 40 stone circle sites from Farafenni to Basse and more stretching north to Senegal. These stone circles date back over a thousand years and are believed to be burial sites. The Wassu stones are the best known and contain some notable stones. There is also a museum that has models and photographs depicting the history of the stones. The number of stones in each circle ranges from 10 to 24, diameters up to 7m, from just under a meter to just over 3m in height.

Niumi National Park is located in the northwestern part of the country and stretches from the outskirts of the city of Barra to the northern border with Senegal and close to the Delta du Saloum National Park. Ginak Island is incorporated into the park separated from the mainland by the Niji Bolon Channel. There are two villages on the island and about 15 km of narrow sandy beaches. There is a small coastal lagoon on the island with mudflats, mangroves, mudflats, and rice fields and the rest of the island is dry forest. The mainland part of the park has more extensive tall mangrove forest and additional smaller areas of mudflats and mudflats.

Bijilo Forest Park is a small coastal reserve dominated by Rhun Palm, it is located a short walk from Kololi and is more commonly known by locals as Monkey Park. There are well-maintained trails of varying lengths that take you through the shady, abundant vegetation, and you will easily see monkeys and many species of birds.

Katschi-Kali is a sacred pool in the city of Bakau and is home to over a hundred crocodiles. The pool was discovered by the inhabitants of Bakau centuries ago.

Arthur Haley’s book “Roots” is about Kunta Kinte, who discovered his roots in the Gambian village of Juffureh. This inspired the “Roots Homecoming Festival” commemorating the forced slave trade.

The Tanje Village Museum is a small open-air museum showcasing the natural history and traditional culture of what life was like in The Gambia about a century ago. There are several houses that you can go inside and explore to see how things were done back then. Visitors can also take a stroll through the museum’s garden and get a close look at a variety of plants, trees and shrubs that can be found in The Gambia. There is a fact sheet available to explain the names of these and their uses.

Tumani Tenda is a traditional Jolla village located about 25 km east of Brikama and 3 km from Kafatu Bolong. The town is home to about 300 inhabitants and there is an ecotourism camp just outside the town where visitors can stay to experience the culture of this almost self-sufficient community. The accommodation consists of round traditional African houses built with local resources and blends into the natural environment.