The Gambia has a wealth of natural and historical heritage to explore: forts, historic towns & villages, forests, national parks, ancient ruins, museums, historic monuments and wildlife.
Abuko Nature Reserve
This is Gambia 's oldest protected area. It is near the holiday resorts on the Atlantic Coast and is a great tourist attraction. The reserve protects a large tract of gallery forest, and is particularly noted for its bird and monkey populations you can also see lions, hyenas and crocodiles here.
Albert Market
The enigmatic heart of the capital city, Banjul , is Albert Market. Strolling through the market you can get clothes, shoes, fruits and vegetables, household goods and local handicrafts. Diverse, full of energy and chaotic, the market scene is Banjul at its African best.
Birdwatching
It is common knowledge that The Gambia is paradise for bird watchers from all over the world. With over 540 different species of bird (and butterflies, insects, dragonflies and flowers remain to be identified) in a relatively small area it is so popular that many birders return year after year.
- Bird Safari Camp
Bird Safari Camp is a tropical paradise lodge set on the meandering river banks of MacCarthy Island in The Gambia. Deep in the African bush, this idyllic location provides a perfect base for the discerning traveller who is seeking a genuine experience, away from the crowded beach resorts.
- The Gambia Birding Group
The Gambia Birding Group is non-profit organisation that provides information about practical aspects of visiting The Gambia for wildlife trips and about birding throughout The Gambia, supports conservation for wildlife and provides contact points for birders and naturalists visiting The Gambia.
Brikama Craft Market
Home to some of the most talented wood carvers in the country, this craft market offers a wonderful selection of woodcarvings and souvenirs that can be bought at a reasonable price. You even get to see some of the craftsmen at work some times. Just remember to always bargain on the prices!
Katchikali Crocodile Pool
A sacred pool in Gambia 's tourist town of Bakau has become a major attraction for foreign visitors to the West African country. The pool, discovered hundreds of years ago by the natives of Bakau some 14km (8 miles) from the capital Banjul, is home to more than 100 crocodiles.
Fort Bullen
The British built this fort in 1826 to protect the trading route of the Gambia River and repel any attacks on what was Bathurst , now Banjul , on the opposite side of the river estuary. A few ramparts, crumbling turrets and toppled rusting cannon lie around the historic site. There is a small beach here and a guard post, but little else remains of one of the Gambia 's earliest fortresses. It was renovated in 1996 as part of the Roots Homecoming Festival and is open to visitors. The large square fort has low around towers at each corner, and one can walk along the battlements overlooking the river mouth. An informative leaflet on fort's history is available from the National Museum in Banjul .
Kiang West National Park
The Kiang West National Park (KWNP) was gazetted by 'The Government of The Gambia in 1987. With approximately 11,000 hectares, KWNP is Gambia 's largest park. Within the boundaries can be found almost all of The Gambia's geographical variances: mangroves, salt bats, partially closed canopy forests, laterite extrusions and bolong tributaries. In addition, over 300 species of birds make their home there. The KWNP has been developed for international guests, tourists, Government agencies and school children as well as other visitors.
Makasutu
Makasutu is a palm forest situated on the bank of a beautiful meandering tributary of The Gambia river (Mandina bolong), encompassing many different eco-systems including dense forest, Savanna and mangrove regions. This area situated just a short distance from Brikama, has been sensitively developed over the last seven years into a cultural excursion like no other in The Gambia.
National Museum
If it's history you're looking for then look no further than the Gambia National Museum . Its displays of photos, maps and text about archaeology, African peoples and the colonial period should keep you enchanted for a long time to come.
Niumi National Park
This park is in the northwest of the country, contiguous with the Parc National du Delta du Saloum in neighbouring Senegal , and incorporates the coastal islands of Ginak. It has areas of dry woodland, sand dunes, mangrove, salt marsh and lagoons.
Roots Homecoming Festival
Reuniting the Diaspora with Mother Africa. The Gambia 's International Homecoming Roots Festival. Visit the Motherland and enjoy the cultural experience of a lifetime. Remember Alex Haley's 'Roots'? This is the place Kunta Kinte originated from.
Stone Circles
These are the famed stone circles of West Africa . They consist of rings up to eight metres in diameter of 10 to 24 rounded, reddish-brown, laterite pillars, from one to two-and-a-half metres in height. The Stone Circles have now been identified as burial grounds more than 1,200 years old. Made of hewn laterite there are scores of these sites dotting the landscape.
Tanje Village Museum
The Tanje village museum is a unique place where the natural history and traditional culture of The Gambia is presented in an interesting and accessible way to tourists, Gambians, local inhabitants and school groups. Nowhere can you find out so much about The Gambia, its birds, insects, fish, plants and trees, its different ethnic groups and their cultures.
Tendaba Camp
Tendaba camp is precisely an Eco-Tourism camp that opens through out the year and blends a lot of very interesting areas. The restaurant is classically decorated in an African round-hut style, thatched with elephant grass, ancient series of guns hanging on top of the roof, that looks beautiful and reminds most of the visitors can walk around the camp very freely or inside the village very safely without harassment. It is located 150km approximately from Banjul .
Tumani Tenda
Experience traditional African village lie in this exiting new venture. All the profits stay in the village and are used to pay for development projects, rather than all your money going to a European tour operator. Did you know that less than half your money usually stays in the host country and most of that does not reach local people! This 28 year old village of 300 people is set in beautiful surroundings. Stay in one of five traditional African style houses, each individually designed by a family in the village. They are Jola people with a strong sense of community sprit. The village is almost totally self sufficient and sells excess produce. The huts are in a camp just outside the village next to the Kafuta Bolong.
Wrestling ('Borreh' or 'Nyoboringo')
The Gambia 's National Sport, wrestling (or 'Borreh' as it is commonly known), is similar to Greco-Roman wrestling but with a few twists. A major crowd puller with both the locals and the tourists, Borreh is certainly a must see whilst in The Gambia.
source: visitthegambia
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