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What can we do in The Gambia?
Shopping and markets
Food and craft market shopping in The Gambia is an excellent way to immerse yourself in the local culture and buy interesting souvenirs including tie-dyed and hand-made batik fabrics and clothes, hand-woven baskets, wood carvings, beads and jewellery. The largest market is the Albert Market in Banjul with other popular markets at Bakau, Serrekunda and Brikama.
Another popular outing is an afternoon trip to the Tanjeh fish market where you can take in the unforgettable sights and sounds of the day’s catch being landed from colourful boats and transported to the fish sellers and to the smoke houses where fish is prepared for export. In contrast The Ocean Lounge, opposite the market, offers a calm atmosphere, cool drinks and a range of delicious meals.
Mustapha has excellent knowledge of the local markets and shops, and where to go whether you want to see fabrics being dyed, wood being carved, fish being landed or if you just want to go to a local supermarket to buy imported food items. He is a great market guide and takes pride in keeping you feeling safe in the bigger, busier markets in Banjul and Serrekunda.
Beaches
The Gambia has 50 kilometres of beautiful beaches with golden sand. As well as the beaches near the tourist hotels there are many quieter locations for swimming with shaded loungers, food and drinks, offering the chance to rest, soak up the sun or take a walk along the shore. Trips to these beaches also offer opportunities to spot native and migrating birds. Favourite destinations include The Rainbow Beach Bar at Sanyang and eco lodges from Gunjur to Kartong, for example Boboi Beach Lodge.
Mustapha has taken us to gorgeous beaches away from the main tourist areas where we’ve enjoyed swimming, wandering along the sandy beaches and eating at beach side restaurants with Gambian and European dishes. And then relaxing under the palm trees. Just lovely.
Birding and wildlife
The Gambia offers huge opportunities for birdwatching along the coast, in woodlands, riverside forests and mangrove swamps. The range of birds is extensive, from the mighty pelican and osprey to hornbills, nine species of kingfisher and the tiny Senegalese firefinch and red cheeked cordon bleu. I never travel without my binoculars and Field Guide to the Birds of The Gambia and Senegal and am happy to act as a bird guide in one of Gambia’s nature reserves or to visit spots where I know specific birds are likely to be seen. Early morning or evening river trips are most rewarding. A favourite is the slow canoe trip from Kingfisher Lodge, Marakissa, offering a rich variety of bird life, and perfect for bird photography. These trips can be followed by breakfast (early morning trip) or dinner (evening trip) at Kingfisher Lodge. Another favourite area is the wetlands at Kartong, which can be followed by a meal at the river’s edge where you can watch the small ferry boat crossing to Senegal, or at Boboi Beach Lodge where you can also swim in the sea.
There are opportunities to see a variety of small animals such as monkeys in nature reserves and in their natural habitats near the coastal tourist area. Crocodiles can be seen at the sacred Katchikally pool and at Calypso restaurant, both in Bakau. If you are lucky, you may see a crocodile in its natural habitat at Marakissa. The snake farm, near Kartong, allows you to see snakes in a safe environment.
Upriver destinations at Bintang Bolong, Tendaba and Janjanbureh offer boat trips to see birds in more remote locations. Bintang Bolong also offers a fascinating village tour to learn about local horticulture and oyster farming, undertaken by women. If you are lucky you may see dolphins in the river at Tendaba.
River trips from Janjanbureh can take you to see chimpanzees on the islands of the River Gambia National Park and, with luck, hippopotamus. All these destinations offer basic but comfortable accommodation and meals.
If you would like to see larger game, then you can see zebra, giraffe, rhino, lion and antelope and eland at the Fathala Wildlife Reserve across the river Gambia in Senegal where 4x4 adventures are on offer.
Bintang Bolong
We had the most amazing trip to Marakissa where we canoed at a leisurely pace down the river about a kilometre before returning for a delicious breakfast at Kingfisher Lodge served by very friendly Fatou. Mustapha was happy to do the paddling – thanks! The range of birds was incredible (Mustapha pointed out many we might have missed). The stars of the show were the pied kingfishers that you cannot miss. They fly all around, dive to catch fish and pose on stumps or in trees keeping a beady eye for fish or swallowing their catch. It was an unmissable trip.
History
Tanjeh Village Museum
You can learn about Gambia’s history and cultural development with visits to the Gambia National Museum in Banjul, the small Katchikally museum in Bakau at the Tanjeh Village Museum where a traditional Mandinka village from 100 years ago has been recreated.
The Gambia also has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The megalithic Stone Circles of Senegambia, are located at Wassu on the north bank of the river Gambia, a short distance from Janjanbureh.
Kunta Kinteh Island, previously known as James Island, was a major European trading center for centuries, played a central role in the transatlantic slave trade, and featured in Alex Haley's famous novel "Roots". Here you can explore the ruins of Fort James, a 17th-century British fort, and the Kunta Kinteh memorial site. Nearby is Jufureh, a small village on the north bank of the Gambia River believed to have been Kunta Kinteh’s village.
From Jingjanbureh, Mustapha took us accross the river again to visit the stone circles at Wassu. These strange laterite upright stones leave you wondering how on earth it was possible to create the circles all those thousands of years ago.
Local village tours
I enjoy taking visitors on village tours to show you glimpse of our local way of life. One example is my own village of Tujereng where we can visit the market place, the mosque, local shops and businesses, market gardens, nursery and primary schools, meeting places, clinics and the art village. I am happy to act as language interpreter.
Home visits
I live with my wife and children in a compound with my extended family. If you would be like to see how we live, you are welcome to visit my home and join us for a meal. If you are interested in cooking a traditional Gambian meal, such as domada (peanut butter stew) or benachin (spicy rice with vegetables), my wife is happy to show you where we purchase, and how we prepare, the food for these meals.
Into Southern Senegal (Casamance)
An overnight (or more) visit to nearby Casamance offers you a glimpse into the French influence in Senegal.
A one or two day visit takes us to the fishing village of Kafountine and artists’ retreat of Abene. A number of eco lodges offer affordable overnight stays with delicious African-French cuisine.
A longer 2-3 day trip to Cap Skirring takes us further south through Ziguinchor, the capital of Casamance to the Atlantic coast near the border with Guinea Bissau. A range of accommodation from luxury to eco lodges is available.
Having travelled to many places in Gambia we decided we’d like to take a look at Casamance and experience Senegal. So we asked Mustapha what was possible. It couldn’t have been easier. The drive to the border took us past Brikama and a fruit farming area. Mustapha helped us move quickly through the emigration and immigration posts. Then a short drive to Diouloulou where we stopped for elevenses and a loo stop before turning west towards Kafountine. We stayed at a lovely small eco-lodge with comfortable rooms, very friendly staff and food and drink that gave us a real sense of French culture.
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