Top 8 best places in Gambia for the crazy tourists
- Country:
- Gambia
When you ponder over visiting Africa, you should give a thought to visit The Gambia. This West African country, surrounded by Senegal with the exception of its western coastline along the Atlantic Ocean is always worth visiting, mainly for the nature lovers. This is one of those few countries in the world surrounded by the rivers on both sides. The Gambia is situated on both sides of the lower reaches of the Gambia River, which flows through the centre of The Gambia and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Here we have given a list of some important places which you should visit while visiting The Gambia.
Abuko Nature Reserve
Abuko Nature Reserve is also popularly known as Abuko National Park. It is a renowned nature reserve in the Gambia lying south of the town of Abuko. Previously designated as the West African country’s first designated wildlife reserve, wildlife reserve, Abuko Nature Reserve is a popular tourist destination that attracts a huge number of tourists round the year. Since 1916, it has been protected as a water catchment area. Nature beauty with varied types of flora and fauna are the major attractions at this place spreading across an area of 107 hectares. You can see diverse species of primates in the reserve like velvet or green monkey, red colobus, bushbaby or galago, mammals like bush buck, sitatunga, striped ground squirrel, sun squirrel, different types of rodents. The reserve has a good collection of reptiles like the dwarf crocodile, puff adder, black-necked cobra, spitting cobra, python, geckos, monitor lizard, green mamba to name a few. On the other hand, the reserve has recorded 270 bird species including numerous moths and butterflies. Typical trees, up to 30 feet high in this large destination are oil palm, mahogany, iroko and anthocleista procera.
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Kunta Kinteh Island
Kunta Kinteh Island is a must-visiting destination in the Gambia as it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Previously it was popular as James Island and St Andrew’s Island. Kunta Kinteh Island is an island in the Gambia River. The serene natural beauty here attracts visitors from various parts of the world. The first record of European interaction with the island is in May 1456. The record shows a Portuguese expedition led by Italian explorers Alvise Cadamosto and Antoniotto Usodimare moored off the island. Unfortunately, this island is suffering heavy erosion and is currently approximately one-sixth of its size during the time when the fort was active. On a visit to this island, you can see the ruins of colonialism and slavery. You can also see the prisons and caves on the island where slaves were detained before being shipped off to the American colonies. The standing cannons in the military-attacking positions are also found here.
Image Credit: Pixabay
Gambia National Museum
Located in Banjul, Gambia National Museum is the absolute home to the historical documents and displays concerning the History of the Gambia. Through this museum, you can learn more about the cultural heritage of the Gambia like who the Super Eagles were and what a masquerade is. Gambia National Museum houses a huge collection of artefacts of ethnographic importance and has become one of the leading tourist attractions since its inception in 1985.
Image Credit: Facebook / Welcome to Gambia
Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve
Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve is one more beautiful destination in the Gambia for the nature lovers. It hosts three varied ecosystems side by side – mangrove forest, salt marsh and savannah woodland. Along the coast of Bao Bolon tributary, you can visit the Senegalese border. Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve also includes rich flora and fauna within multiple ecosystems. At the mangrove forest, you can see the mangrove trees of the Senegambia region reaching a height of 20 metres. The best way to visit the entire reserve on a pirogue cruise through the creeks (or bolongs) and thick mangroves of the reserve. For nature paparazzi, this place is beyond all description and must not be missed.
Image Credit: Flickr / Tony (tickspics)
Wassu Stone Circles
Wassu Stone Circles or simply Wassu is located in Gambia’s Niani district. It is made up of 11 stone circles. The stones sizes and circular shapes do vary from 10 to 20 stones with sizes from 4 to 6 metres across. These are believed to be the burial mounds of Kings and chiefs in ancient times over 1,200 years. The 11 large concentration of circles have puzzled many travellers since centuries and have been the subject of dozens of archaeological excavations since the 1800s.
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project or Camp
A visit to this chimpanzee sanctuary will surely endow you with an unforgettable experience of spending time among the chimpanzees and intensely know Gambia’s wildlife. The mission of Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project is to provide protection, life-long care and a safe environment to all chimpanzees and their offspring. Although here the chimps get more priority to the visitors, still the natural beauty is wonderful and mesmerizing. You can watch the chimps in their natural habitat as they are not kept in cages. There is no restriction on their movements in the forest.
Image Credit: Facebook / Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project in The Gambia
Kachikally Crocodile Pool
Kachikally Crocodile Pool is one of the three sacred crocodile pools utilized as sites for fertility rituals. The other two are Folonko in Kombo South and Berending on the north bank. Here you can see over 80 Nile crocodiles and researchers suggest they are of different species, namely the West African crocodile. They are allowed to move freely and can be approached and touched by visitors. The pool belongs to the Bojang family of Bakau whose ancestors reputedly settled in the area around 500 years ago. At the entry of Kachikally, you will find a museum that displays interesting African musical instruments (1.5m-long wooden xylophone, harp-like kora, several tall ceremonial drums including traditional masquerade costumes and masks). You can also access the history of Bakau and Gambia’s involvement in the Second World War.
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Serrekunda Market
Serrekunda Market is said to be one of the biggest markets in the Gambia, the other one is Albert Market in Banjul. While during your tour in the Gambia, you should visit Serrekunda Market where you can get anything and everything. This means the varied assortments from vegetables, fishes, electronics, phones, garments, spices, household materials, fabrics, etc.
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Apart from the above destinations, you can also visit the Banjul city, Old Town, Bijilo Forest Park, Brufut Beach, Janjangbureh, Sanyang Village, Makasutu Culture Forest, Bambo Bar on the Gambia River, Tanji Fish Market to name a few.
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