Tag: Banjul The Gambia

Where in the World Are We?

We are in Banjul, The Gambia.

BANJUL, THE GAMBIA

A place of scorched sunlight and faded colonial history.

Emerging from The Gambia’s wild mangrove swamps, Banjul sits at the spot where the River Gambia’s yawning mouth opens to meet the salty tang of the Atlantic. Punctuated by a soaring 35-meter arched gateway, constructed following the 1994 coup d’état, The Gambia’s capital is a place of scorched sunlight and faded colonial history, offering flavors of laid-back beachside relaxation mixed with exotic, old-world African seaport charm.

Despite its capital status, Banjul, with its soft, lyrical name, often has more of a village feel. You’ll feel it most acutely as you explore the tight-knit labyrinth of Albert Market. The orchestral sounds of bartering rise to a pitched crescendo in the early morning—the perfect time to plunge in for a dizzying hit of sensory overload.

A beloved gathering spot since the 19th century, the market is a riot of color, with spit-and-nail stalls buckling beneath the weight of print fabrics, salt-crusted fish, and colorful textiles. While the market can be a disorientating whirl of activity, the city as a whole tends to move at a more lackadaisical, laid-back pace.

Visit Oyster Creek to let an afternoon float by, fishing rod in hand, as the sunlight slants across the water and you savor the hint of an afternoon breeze. Cormorants and pelicans step gingerly across the sinking mudflats that line the riverbank. Those craving cultural immersion can visit a local home for a cooking experience—helping to scale fresh red snapper, sipping baobab juice, and mixing spices into an authentic benachin pot.

SIGHTS
• Banjul National Museum
• Arch 22
• Kachikally Crocodile Pool
• Serrekunda – Batik Factory
• Albert Market
• Abuko Nature Reserve
• Bijilo Forest Park
• King Fahad Mosque
• Roman Catholic Cathedral

SHOPPING
Go to Albert Market to browse through this colorful market. It is bustling and full of color; this main city market has three sections. One is for food – meats, produce, and dry goods; another section hawks clothing, housewares, and other everyday needs; the rest is aimed at tourists seeking arts, crafts, and gifts. Dozens of stalls wind through the maze. Bargaining is expected! Look for batiks, handicrafts, T-shirts, hats, and more

Today’s Excursion – Banjul & Serrakunda

Banjul National Museum
The Museum and contributions made by Gambians to the arts, religion, politics, sports, and technology are shown in photos, as are archaeological finds that describe the African people and their colonial period. It houses three floors of exhibits. The ground floor showcases the political and cultural history of Banjul, the nation’s capital. On the basement level, you can learn about the musical heritage of the Gambia and see what instruments are popular throughout the country. On the second floor, you can learn about the archeological history of West Africa and the Gambia. The same floor also details the national colonial and post-independence political and economic history.

Arch 22
Arch 22 (built in 1996) commemorates the 22 July 1994 bloodless military coup. Arch 22 is a commemorative arch on the road into Banjul. It was built in 1996 to mark the military coup through which Yahya Jammeh and his Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council overthrew the democratically elected Gambian government. A statue of the “unknown soldier” can be seen near the base of the arch: the soldier has a rifle strapped to his back and carries a baby in one hand whilst signaling victory with the other. Arch 22 is also depicted on the back of the 100-dalasis banknote.

Kachikally Crocodile Pool
We drove to Bakau Katchikally and visited the Crocodile Pool. It is one of three sacred crocodile pools used as sites for fertility rituals. It is a privately owned crocodile pool belonging to the Bojang family of Bakau, one of the founding families and major land owners of the city. The exact number of crocodiles is not known, but it is estimated that there are approximately 100.

Serrekunda – Batik Factory
Serrekunda (meaning the home of the Sere Family) comprises 9 small villages that have merged over the years, and it is the largest town in Gambia today. Visit the tie-dye batik factory and see the full process from design to the
waxing and boiling of the fabrics. It supplies many of the local ships.

Saint Albert Market
We stopped at the Saint Albert Market to browse its colorful offerings and catch a glimpse of both household items and souvenirs on offer. Bargaining is expected! Look for batiks, handicrafts, T-shirts, and hats. It is named after
Albert, Prince Consort, husband of Queen Victoria, who controlled Gambia during colonial times.

Dinner was in The Atlantide Restaurant.