Welcome to Travelpoort, your guide in The Gambia!

Welcome to The Gambia. Here, you will find all the information you need for your vacation trip to The Gambia

Welkom in Gambia. Hieronder vindt u alle informatie voor uw vakantiereis naar Gambia.

We have some video clips on Youtube. Please click Clip 1 or Clip 2.

Unfortunately, not much is known about the history of The Gambia, because the people in Western Africa did not read or write before the Portuegese discovered The Gambia in the 15th century. The Islamic Portuegese were searching for a new homeland and found gold and other valuable goods. The history that has been recorded over time is drenched in violence, slavery and colonisation.

Hanno of Carthage first metioned the river Gambia. The admiral made many journeys along the African west coast, about 500 B.C. He established several colonies at the north coast of Africa, currently Morocco, as starting points for his expeditions. He probably made it to the current Sierra Leone. It is certain he also stopped at Gambia, after which it took a thousand years before The Gambia was inhabited or at least travelled in. The earliest signs of civilation date from around 700 A.D. An unknown people left stones, positioned in a circle, in the area of the corrent Wassu. This remained a mystery for a long time, also because the circles were found in other places on the North side of the river. The biggest mystery for academics are the stone circles in Kerr Batch, about 30 kilometers west of Wassu, of which some stones are placed in a V-shape. The deeper meaning of this remains unknown. There are similarities to the well-known Stonehenge circles in Great Brittain, although these are much larger and older. Also, research has shown that there were human remains around the Wassu, which indicates that there were graves. It is speculated that the people buried within the circle were important, and others were buried outside of the circle. Also, because The Gambia is a country where many gods used to be honoured, other stories go around about the stone circles of Wassu. However, there is no evidence that any of these stories contains even an essence of truth. There is, for example, no indication that these stone circles can be the remains of settlements or building.

The historiography of Senegambia (Senegal and The Gambia together) is changing. There is no writing from before the 15th century arrival of the Portuguese. History was passed on through oral stories by people called "griots". These are probably comparable to the troubadours we know. It is not strange then, that our insights in the history change constantly, because of varying analyses of Gambian folklore. It was also thanks to a (modern) griot that the history of Kunta Kinteh was written down. Alex Haly tells in his book Roots the story of Kunta Kinteh, a boy from the Mandinka tribe, who was captured and transported to the United States to be sold to a plantation owner. Alex Haley (a distant relative to Kunta Kinteh) did much research in Great Brittain and the United States and helped to clarify some parts of the history of The Gambia. However, his first goal was to find information about his roots and those of other African Americans. Nowadays, 'Roots excursions' and 'Home Coming Festivals' are quite popular in the USA.

In the Middle Ages, a religious battle aimed against Muslims raged through all of Europe. They were driven away by Christian troops, which is how it could happen that Spanish and Portueguese Muslims went to the South, also to Western Africa, where they found the poor and by Berbers abandoned Senegambia. The peoples that lived there were poor and primitive; an easy pray to the modernly armoured Europeans.
In 1456 A.D., nearly 2000 years after Hanno of Carthage mentioned the country, the Portuguese under Henry the Navigator sailed the river Gambia and established a trade settlement on an island in the river. They called it Ilha de San André (Saint Andrew's Island), after a buried Portuguese sailor. Later, the island was renamed Fort James Island. This is how the Portuguese started to rule the area around the river The Gambia. Because many of them could not return to Portugal because of their Islamic backgrounds, they mingled with the Gambians, who were also Islamic. There was also a settlement in Bakau, but that was for strategic reasons; from the highest point you can watch out far over the ocean.

Not only Muslims who were driven away, also explorers travelled through Africa, looking for new areas to trade with. Especially spices were popular in those days. Trade was very lucrative for the Europeans; we all know the stories about mirrors and beads.

By that time, slavery started to grow to the proportions we know. However, not the Portuguese but rather other European peoples started this. Especially the Spaniards had gained quite some experience in capturing people. They sold Berbers and Turks to European families. The first slave left The Gambia in 1501. Then, more and more people were braught to Spain. The Brits discovered human trafficking was very profitable and the first big transport of slaves was a fact; not to the US (hardly discovered), but to Great-Brittain!
During wars between peoples (quite common those days), prisoners were killed, because keeping them alive would mean they had to be fed, which could not be afforded seeing the great poverty. Only a few peoples in this part of Africa were cannibalistic, mainly on religious grounds.

When the Europeans came, people suddenly became tradeable goods. Prisoners were no longer killed, but sold. At first, three slaves were traded for one camel, even though camels were very common in this part of Africa. The Berbers led their trade goodfs through the desert to Tunisia, where they were offered on official markets. The prices there were far higher, sometimes up to three camels for one slave. Later, weapons and European luxuries were paid for the slaves. Prices rose quickly, and not only prisoners of war were sold, but also criminals from their own tribe and even their own children. Well armoured gangs would leave to hunt for "blacks", and sometimes left villages behind uninhabited. This also happened to Kunta Kinteh, an early relative of Alex Haley and one of the main character in his book Roots. By the river Gambia, large slave depots emerged. Some of them still had to be offered for sale, others would wait there for transport to the southern United States or the West Indies (Caribbean area), where they were put to work on plantations.

After the first slave transport to Great-Brittain under captain John Hawkins, many hundreds followed. There is no clear idea of how many slaves left Africa from The Gambia. Slaves were loaded onto ships with as many as possible and shipped under very poor conditions to another world. Many of them would not survive the journey. If there was a contagious disease on the ship, contamined and suspects of contamination were put overboard. Many horror stories of these transports go around. The famous explorer Livingstone once said that only 10% of those shipped would make it to the place of destination. Later research has shown that this percentage is much higher, especially for western Africa, but it is a fact that over half of the transported slaves did not survive the journey. An estimated 12 million slaves boarded in The Gambia between 1501 and 1856 (when America abolished slavery), and spent the rest of their lives on cotton- and tabacco plantations... If they survived the journey!

The (German) count of Courland built a fort on the Portuguese Ilha de San André in 1651. From here, he traded with the rulers of the northern banks of the river Gambia, especially in slaves. Ten years later, the island was occupied by British trademen and renamed Fort James Island, after the British king James 3. The fortress was distroyed several times by tribes and soldiers of other nationalities, such as the French, because the Brits terrorised the area under the name of 'royal adventurers of the English trade'. They also occupied another island upstream, and called it Dog Island, after the bark-like sounds baboons make if they want to scare their predators away.

The French, who already had quite some property in Northern and Western Africa, among which an important part of Senegal, tried to expand their influence more inland. In 1681 they tried this over the river The Gambia and came to agreements with the rulers of the northern banks. For four bars of iron per year, they rented a piece of land on the norther banks of the river Gambia and called it Albadarr. This is still the official name, although it is nowadays often called Albreda. This was now a French enclave in a not much bigger British settlement which was situated in the middle of French territory, which was recognised by the Brits. A great fire destroyed Albadarr in 1686 and the French abandoned the area. The British occupied the territory in 1689 but only six years later, the French reclaimed their area. Although the British were determined not to give their newly occupied land away, it took the French only two canon shots to change their minds. To prove their superiority, the French destroyed Fort James and dismantled the canons, after which they left the island.

The Brits rebuilt Fort James, but before it was done, the French struck again in 1702. This time, they demanded British payment for 'management' of the island, with a sum of 6.000 GBP. British exiles were put to work to rebuild the fortress, but there was a riot in 1708 after which they left the island. The territory was subject of arguements for a long time. In 1725, the gun powder depot of Fort James exploded, destroying the fortress again. This time, the British were faster than the French, because they had enough men available to scare the French away. The treaty of Paris of 1763 made an end to many uncertainties. Senegambia was British territory and the French could stay in Albadarr. The first British governor chose to settle in St. Louis, a place by the mouth of the river Senegal. He sent a representative, colonel O'Hara to The Gambia, who chose to settle on Fort James Island. However, the native people who still lived on the northern banks were influenced by the French, and they drove O'Hara out. The French occupied the island in 1779, and they were there to stay.

The French part of Albadarr was an important site for loading slaves on ships. Until there was transport, slaves were 'deposited'. Guarding them was a boring job, so often, there were only 2 soldiers to guard all the slave houses. The only task was to hoist the flag on Sunday morning and lower it again on Sunday evening. The flagpole became important for slaves after Great Britain abolished slavery. The area was then under British command again, and an escaped slave who managed to reach the flagpole, got his freedom back. Therefore, it was called 'freedom flagpole'. On the place where the flagpole used to be, there is now an 18 pound canon dating back from 1810.

Obviously, the French felt left out by the treaty of Paris. Many arguments led to the treaty of Versailled of 1783, which gave Senegal to the French and The Gambia to the Brits. At that time, The Gambia was only the river Gambia and the banks on both sides, up to Fort James Island, because people did not dare to sail any further up the river. Later, an adventurous farmer's son from Selkirk-shire named Mungo Park did so. He had sailed the seas as a ship's doctor and he became obsessed with Africa. He settled in Jillifree (Juffureh), just north of Albadarr, on request of the Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior Parts of Africa. Park started his mission frmo there with a few ideals: he wanted to discover the source of the river Niger and he wanted to be the first white man to see Timbuktu.

In 1807, the British parliament passed a law that abolished slavery. The trade of slaves from The Gambia was immediately made impossible and a time of poverty commenced. The borders of the country were hardly official, and many native peoples wanted to regain the land of their forefathers. In March 1816, Alexander Grant, captain of the British Navy, bought an island in the mouth of the river Gambia from the king of Kombo, Tumani Bojang, for 25 GBP. This shows that these original peoples and their claims were accepted by some. The island was called Bathurst, after count Henry, third count of Bathurst and British Minister of Colonies between 1815 and 1827. The official borders of The Gambia were made official during a Berlin conference in 1884. The eastern border of the country was the furthest point of the river people could sail and the northern- and southern borders were chosen from a day's walk from the river Gambia plus the distance that a canon ball from heavy artillery could be shot. The coastal region is different; in the South it ends with the river Allahein. Historic connections between peoples and their settlements particularly troubled drawing up official borders. Whatever border would be drawn up, the natives would probably not respect those. The negotiators chose to take the before mentioned distance on the north side, at the coast, and draw it straight to the east into the inlands, past the point where the indigenous peoples were causing trouble. In the south was decided to take that particular distance from the place where the river turns to the inlands. For a long time, Mandinka, Wolof and Fula people did not respect the official borders: where the settlement of the people ended was where the country ended. Still, cross-border trade takes place within the community of one people.

During the government of the last British governor, Sir Edward Windly, the possession of colonies became criticised all over the world. Under pressure of many nations, Great Britain gave up The Gambia as a colony, and Sir Edward ordered for the first elections. On 4 October 1963, preparations were made for independence, which was realised on 18 February 1965 in the British Commonwealth. In 1966, the first (still British) governor of Gambian descent, Alhaji Farimang Mamadi Singhabeh, was installed. The country became independent in 1970.

Senegal (no longer under French government) and The Gambia were close to continue as the republic of Senegambia. The countries signed a declaration of cooperation in 1967, but it was cancelled over 20 years later, on 30 September 1989, because Senegal felt that The Gambia developped too slowly. The Gambians were proud of their country and happy with everything the British had left behind, even though they have a lot in common with the Senegalese, and often share history and forefathers. However, the influence Senegal wanted to have on the development of the region was not in line with The Gambia's views; they decided to stay independent.

In 1965, when The Gambia became independent of the British Commonwealth, Sir Jawda Jawara became prime minister. After the official independence of the republic of The Gambia, he became the first president. The people loved him and when a conspiracy against him was discovered in 1981, they were generally highly outraged. The Gambia did not have a military of its own; it was fully dependent on Senegal for military operations. There had been no need, because they were supposed to be united. In order to protect the president from a hostile change of power, special 'armed forces' were formed. Army, navy and air force together were only 200 men, with 100 men of police forced added to that. The armed forces then reached 700.

Later, the armed forces expanded to 800 men, which meant the end of Jawara's goverment. In July 1994 he was put aside and banished, because of supposed corruption. His possessions were forfeited. From then on, the power was in hands of the army, under leadership of the then 29-year-old lieutenant (later captain) Yahva A.J.J. Jammeh. He promised to call for elections to restore democracy within 6 months. However, the power remained in military hands until after July 1996 when general elections were held. The military government consisted of civilians for over 65%.

Great-Britain interfered and called back all tourists in The Gambia, followed by Denmark and Scandinavia. A 60% drop of tourists was devastating for a country that was just starting its tourist industry. The military forces made another mistake by starting negotiation with Libya for diplomatic relations. The pressure of many nations caused these negotiations to end very soon. Not until several years later did Great-Britain end its 'negative travel advice', but it took until November 1995 before the main flow of tourists had started again. However, The Gambian government does everything to prevent that the British influence on tourism can be of such magnitude.

In 1996 and 1997, parliamentary democracy was restored. After this, an electorate register was started, a referendum on constitutional changes was held among the Gambians and a president was elected. Jammeh, the leader of the coup in 1994, had resigned from his military functions in 1996, and was elected president with a great majority of the votes. After these, the general elections for representation of the people were held.

The republic of The Gambia is an independent state, is part of the British Commonwealth and member of the United Nations. Furthermore, it is part of the Union of Independent African States and Ecowas, the Economic Community of West African States. Also, The Gambia is a member of the African Committee for Human- and Peoples Rights.

The Gambia is an Islamic country. Most people assume that about 80% of the inhabitants are Muslim, but according to official lists, this is 90%. The other 10% have another church, mainly the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church, of which both have their own bishop in The Gambia. Furthermore, there are groups of Methodists, Adventists and followers of the Baha’I teachings (close to humanism). There are very few people that have no religious beliefs. Although the experience of the Islam is somewhat different than in the Middle East or African northern coast, a large part of the inhabitants is strictly religious. You can notice this for example in the hours of prayer, when you sometimes may not find any employee in the hotel, or see a farmer in prayer on the land. Muslims will sit on a prayer rug, facing Mekka (the birth place of Mohammed and most important pilgrimage place for Muslims). People pray 5 times per day: the Fajr at 6:30 am, the Suhr at 2 pm, the Asr at 5 pm, the Maghrib at 7:30 pm, and the Isha at 8:30 pm.

You will find mosques through the entire country. The largest mosque is in the capitol of Banjul, and is called “The Grande Mosque”. Wherever you are, you will see impressive minarets of the local mosques. In the inlands, where houses are made of reed, bamboo, leaves and clay, the often colourful mosque stands out very much. During daily prayers, religion is practiced. Outside these hours, you can usually visit a mosque, however, be sure to ask the mosque keeper. You have to be properly dressed (covered shoulders and legs, and shoes taken off) before you enter.

During your stay in The Gambia, you might be confronted with Islam quite often. Please note that taking photographs or making film is only allowed after you have asked and been granted permission. The same goes for objects, houses and mosques, and even for cattle, although these are a less sensitive subject than people. If you go in public (outside your hotel), you are expected to dress properly. Ladies in bikini’s and gentlemen stripped to the waist are not always treated friendly; also when you want to take a taxi. In fact, many taxi drivers will not even transport you. In the Islamic culture, homosexuality is absolutely not tolerated. Whatever your sexual preferences (homosexuals and heterosexual relationship), kissing or any sexual behaviour is not tolerated in public, and not respecting this belief can lead to great trouble.

You will often see names preceded by the word “Alhaji”. This means the person completed a pilgrimage to Mekka. Traders often use this title, as it is held in high regard.

From the colonial past, The Gambia took Sundays as resting days. The holy day for Islamic Gambians is still Friday. The birthday of the prophet Mohammed in September is a national holiday. Because Gambians use two calendars, namely the Western and the Islamic, the exact date of this holiday differs per year, since the latter is based on the moon, and only counts 354 days.  

Muslims celebrate Ramadan, which takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic year, starting with a new moon and ending in an amazing feast at the next new moon. It is a time of fasting and prayer, between sunrise and sunset, no one eats, drinks or smokes, and sexual activity is not allowed. Directly after sunset, Muslims celebrate with dinner. The tourist in The Gambia will hardly notice Ramadan. However, sometimes you may notice that there might be some lack of service, because although the customer always comes first, waiters have not had anything to eat for the entire day.

Those who cannot observe the regulations, or those who do not agree with them, will not be treated as outsiders. For example, pregnant, breastfeeding and menstruating women, as well as people with hard physical work and travellers do not have to observe these rules. They are, however, expected to ‘catch up’ on the days they miss later on.
The end of the Ramadan (Fid-al-Fitr) is called by its French name: korité, and it is a national holiday. The right day (new moon) is only officially announced a day before. People celebrate with an afternoon prayer in the mosque, followed by an extensive meal. Women and many children wear new clothes after the meal, and the children will go out on the street by the houses, show their new clothes and wish you a ‘happy korité’. They will expect some money or sweets.
In the past few and next year, Ramadan will fall on these dates (give or take a day):

2007: September 13 – October 12
2008: September 1 – September 30
2009: August 22 – September 20
2010: August 11 – September 9
Because The Gambia is not situated on the equator, there is some difference in day length, depending on the season. A day during the 2007 Ramadan would last 12 hours and 20 minutes (on average), while a day during the 2010 Ramadan takes 14 hours and 24 minutes. The times people are expected to fast thus differ immensely.

Two months and 10 days after the end of Ramadan, the offering feast of Tobaski is celebrated. A sheep, goat or chicken is slaughtered ritually, by cutting its throat. The slaughtering is done by a religious person, or by the head of the family, but only if he has witnessed the ritual slaughtering by the imam in the mosque in the morning. During the slaughtering, the wife of the person responsible puts her hand on his back. If you are in The Gambia, it regularly happens that you are invited to celebrate Tobaski with the family, in the true spirit of Tobaski: share with others what you have. The days before Tobaski, the cattle markets are very busy. Prices of the cattle shoot up. Many inhabitants therefore travel to the inlands, where prices are a little lower. You will encounter many extra sheep and goats in and on public transport. Often, new clothes are bought, and especially the women’s clothes stand out because of their bright colours. The day after Tobaski, people show themselves with it on the streets. If you are invited to join the feast, people will expect contribution, either in goods (a bag of rice, for example) or with money. You can imagine that the feast of Tobaski costs many Gambians quite some money. Public life almost fully comes to a halt on this day.

Religion and superstition are closely connected in The Gambia. Whatever religion or teaching people choose, children wear juju’s around the neck, gris-gris around the upper arm or belly-belly’s around their waist. These all serve the same purpose: protection against evil spirits. Often, shells are used, but also pieces of leather in which a sacred text is written by an official representative of the particular belief. Also note the entrances of houses: strange or unexpected objects are hanging above many doors. Gambians believe that unauthorized entering will be punished by the gods thanks to this protection, while invited guests are blessed.

It is sometimes claimed that health precautions are not necessary when you are travelling to The Gambia; this is wrong! Malaria, for example, is a serious health risk in The Gambia. Preventive drugs against malaria are thus very important. DTP-shots (diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis) are recommended; they will remain protective for 10-15 years. Vaccine against yellow fever (protective for 10 years) is obligatory in neighbouring Senegal, and one against jaundice is recommended, especially if you want to travel through the country. However, these recommendations may vary, so please timely consult your GP, the general health service (www.ggd.nl in the Netherlands) or the Travel Clinic of the Haven hospital in Rotterdam (tel. nr. 0900-5034090, or www.havenziekenhuis.nl). For Belgium: Vaccine service by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brussels, tel. 02-5013511, or the Institute for Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, tel. 03-2476666 or Travel Phone 0900-10110.

For general information on medical precautions, you can use the service pharmacy’s website (www.serviceapotheek.nl) or the medlook website (www.medlook.nl). You could also send a text message to 0900-6252742 to ask for current malaria- and vaccine advice in any country.

Many health care insurances will (partially) cover the costs for vaccines and/or malaria medication. For Dutch insurance companies, you will find an overview on the website of Vaccine Center Netherlands (vacned.nl).

If you eat out, please always make sure everything is well done. Cut the meat or chicken to be absolutely sure, and eat your steak well-done and eggs turned-over. Dinner with candle light can be very romantic, but remember it could also be a hint that the restaurant’s electricity failed, and therefore the cooling was not properly functioning. Be careful with raw salads.

It is an absolute necessity to drink plenty in The Gambia. Although tap water from the hotels by the coast is definitely drinkable, we still recommend you do not use these, because the composition may cause diarrhoea. Also, do not use ice cubes made from (tap) water, and be cautious with (very) cold drinks. Mineral water is for sale in any super market, and less pricy than in the hotel.

Never immediately use medication at the first signs of diarrhoea, since most problems disappear by themselves after 24 hours.
 
Make sure that, if you use medication, you bring the Latin name. The pharmacist can provide you a ‘travel document for users of medication’, which documents exactly which medication you use.

Bring your own set of medication etc. when you are travelling, with for example some bandages, painkillers and a rehydration salient (ORT). Also, bring something to prevent and cure mosquito bites. Paracetamol and other remedies for small discomforts are for sale in all super markets and pharmacies in The Gambia.

If you need a medical specialist, your hotel’s reception will help you, and there are several clinics nearby. Always ask for the bill so you can declare with your insurance at home.

After you depart from The Gambia, you have to finish your preventive malaria medication. This means you have to take pills for several days or pills after your return, depending on the type of pills you take. If you have a (serious) cold or become ill otherwise within a month after your return, please consult a doctor and mention you have spent some time in Africa.

Flora
The Gambia is situated in the subtropics. This means that nearly literally anything will grow, and so the country has a large variety in vegetation. The trees are most exotic. You will find mainly palm trees, of which the kola palm tree is most common, but the coconut palm is not rare either. Although palms are easiest to recognize, the mahogany and teak trees stand out as well. And how about the enormous cotton- or kapok tree? On top, you will find mango and cashew trees all over the country. However, the most intertwined with Gambian history and culture, and perhaps most noticeable for those who are interested, is the baobab tree.

The baobab tree
The baobab is the most widely discussed and noticeable tree in The Gambia. Mystical properties are assigned to the tree. Rumour has it that the baobab is the oldest organic being in Africa, or even on Earth. On average, this tree grows to be 16-17 meters (55 ft) tall. However, the trunk is what really makes it special. With a circumference of about 9 meters (30 ft), the baobab is easy to recognize, even more because the trunks are unpredictable, and often look as if many trunks grew into one. The tree and its products are used for many goals. It can easily become over 1000 years of age, and is almost never cut down, unless it has died. Many villages and compounds are built around a baobab.

Because of the many applications, the tree is of inconceivable value for the (inland) inhabitants of The Gambia. For example, the bark is boiled to make an anti-malaria substance, or it is used for ropes, wrapping for conservation, or even clothing. The baobab tree does not die after it has been stripped of its bark so many times; the remarkable thing about baobab trees is that they regenerate their bark, so parasites never really reach the core.
 
The fruits of baobab trees look like stones, but both the flesh and seeds are edible. The juice of the flesh is mixed with water and sugar to promote blood circulation and bowel movement; don’t eat too much of it! However, before you can get to eating the flesh, the fruit (stone-like) has to be opened with a heavy object, and to do so without damaging the flesh is quite hard. Monkeys, who eat the fruit as well, do not have problems with it, as they simply slam it on a rock until a hole is made from which they can drink the juice. Once this has been drunk, the rest of the fruit is opened in the same way, so they can reach the pulp. The edible leaves are used to prepare medication against rheumatoid arthritis, and the flowers serve as decoration.

If the baobab dies or is chopped for another reason, the trunk and sometimes thick branches are used to make canoes or fishing boats. All that is left, serves as firewood.

Of course, many legends about the tree circulate among the people, as it is part of every day life in The Gambia. Apparently, criminals’ corpses, ‘unworthy’ of a normal grave, were buried in the hollow trunk of the baobab. Also, travelling Griots (compare them to troubadours) could rest from their travels in the trunk of the tree.

Other vegetation
Another important share of the river Gambia’s vegetation consists of mangrove forests. In The Gambia they are often called mangrove swamps, as most of the trees grow in the water and mud of the river, so it looks like a swamp with some shrubbery on top. The mangrove only grows a few meters high, but dozens of bird-, fish- and reptile species live in them.

During the past few decades, the amount of forestry in The Gambia has decreased by 35%, mainly caused by burning by the people, who make charcoal for fires and cooking. Although this type of deforestation is illegal, it is still very common. Furthermore, the forest is often cut to make room for aggregation and compounds, and although this cutting is bound to rules, not many people abide to these, since they (are forced to) have other priorities.

 Napier grass is another interesting type of vegetation in The Gambia. Unfortunately, it pops up like weeds, wherever it is not needed, and it is a true plague to any farmer. On top of that, almost all well-known bamboo types are found in The Gambia, of which the shoots provide a nice meal for many animal species. The bamboo itself is used for building homes, but also for making charcoal, which is illegal.

Flowers are abundant, and although they are often covered by red sand and dust from the roads, they never fail to show you their beautiful colours. Many plants you might cherish at home grow lavishly in hotel gardens. Very noticeable is the Scadodox multifloris, better known among Gambians as the Ba Jadbo. This red bullet-shaped flower grows in humid places throughout the entire year. The Hibiscus, with flowers twice or three times as big as on your window sill, is used as a fence, as a sort of hedgerow.
The magnificence of the Gambian flora reaches too far to name it profusely, but for lovers of flowers, the vegetation is most definitely more than satisfactory. Even on the north bank of the river or on the Central River Division, with regions that seem dry and withered (The Gambia is one of the so called Sahel-countries), you discover the exuberance of nature in many places.

Another type of vegetation that should be mentioned is the ‘quinine’ plant, a type of bush that allegedly also has healing effects. The juice from the thick leaves is used to cure wounds rapidly. A leaf or stalk in the cradle or on the body of a baby will protect it against various diseases. However, many other plant species are assigned these healing and protective properties. This plant is special because the branches are chewed on to clean the teeth and protect against malaria. Accordingly, you will often see Gambians with a short stick in their mouth, which they keep there at all times, apart from during meals. The leaves from this plant are boiled in a pint of water for a long time, to make a bitter potion against malaria. It is said that drinking this potion will make you immune against malaria for 3 years. Another story goes that if you have a toothache, all you do is rinse with extract from the cashew tree to make your pain disappear. However, you will probably prefer the fruit; in season, cashew nuts are also very cheap!

No one knows exactly how many different plant species grow in The Gambia. Last counts indicate a number of over 1000. These included trees, bushes, herbs, grasses and flowering plants. Research into the flora of the country still continues, but it will take a few more years until the list is complete.

In dry season, forest-fires are very common in The Gambia, and they are rarely extinguished, because nature repairs itself. Since there is hardly any wind, the fire stops as soon as it reaches a road or cleared out area. If you are travelling around The Gambia, you will often be confronted with charcoal black and burnt down trees. Also, do not be surprised when you do see a smouldering forest. Furthermore, you might see the farmland burn, but that is because the ashes are used to soil the earth for the new season.

Fauna
The Gambia is not a country where safaris are organised like in Kenya or South-Africa. Bird safaris, however, are very common. The country is a paradise for bird lovers and you encounter the most exotic sorts of birds. Regularly, new species are discovered. Up to now, over 450 different kinds of birds were registered, of which some of them can only be found in The Gambia. In the Abuko Nature Reserve alone, about 280 different kinds of birds reside. In hotel parks, if present, you might have the feeling you are in a tropical aviary. On top, along the beach, in the mangrove swamps, and along the desert border, you see birds of exotic beauty. The early morning is the time to watch birds, but right before dawn, they might show themselves as well. Most bird safaris are organized in the early morning. To study birds you really need binoculars, and you can't do without a telephoto lens when taking pictures.

Only in National Parks will you find the ‘big’ game: larger wildlife, but even there you will find only few. The last giraffe disappeared from The Gambia in the late 19^th century, and the last elephant died in the start of the 20^th. Various buffalo- and antelope types were once present in the landscape, but they were driven out or slaughtered by man. White people were, for that matter, not only, or perhaps not at all, responsible for this. Rumour has it that not very long ago, a leopard was shot by an inland poacher. Surprisingly, leopard tracks recently were discovered in Kiang West National Park. Furthermore, there are some persistent rumours of the presence of lions, and hippos and crocodiles live further inland in the river Gambia. With the help of a good guide, you may certainly see them. Also, there are some antelope species, wild boars (aardvarks) and warthogs live in The Gambia. So there is some ‘big game’ left, but you really have to search in order to see it.
However, if you want to discover the many (small) indigenous monkey species, you won’t have to search for long, because they are nearly everywhere in The Gambia. Stories go that they have even been spotted on the Denton Bridge, the most important main road to Banjul. If you take a trip through the forests or by the creeks, you will most definitely see them. Note: never chase a group of baboons for pictures, as they might become very aggressive!  

There are a lot of snakes in The Gambia and there are some mean species among them. It's very difficult to see them and the first sign of storm and foreboding they quickly disappear, so it is really rare for you to see them. It's a rare thing for you to really see them. However, snakes live in the parks around hotels as well, although you will see the giant lizards probably more often. If you discover a snake by the hotel, please inform a guard or employee in the hotel. Also note that Gambians are terrified of snakes because of the story of Ninkee Nankaa.
 
Snakes are also found in the water, some of them with lethal bites. There are more than enough fish that can hurt you rather badly or even (temporarily) paralyse you with their prickles or fins. This is an important reason not to go out fishing without supervision by an expert. The most exotic fish live in the river Gambia and in the creeks through the mangrove swamps, although you can't compare these fish with the colourful sorts that live near coral reefs in tropical waters. Sometimes you are dealing with rare species like the guitar- fish (which has a striking resemblance to a friendly balalaika), the frog fish, or the lungfish. The mudfish, no stranger in the swamps, uses its fins to move forward and even manages to climb trees. Larger animals such as dolphins can be found in these waters as well, of course, especially if you make a boat trip on the river Gambia. As a result of the lack of barriers, the river is salt and brine from the coast till 150 to 180 kilometres inland, in the dry season even up to 240 km. Further inland on the river, you will find hippos. Evening- or night excursions, especially for watching night birds, are organised from the Baobolong Camp on JanjangBureh Island, and you are bound to find hippos on these trips as well. As a matter of fact, you will find traces of hippos moving onto the land in many places by the river. If, you visit the crocodile pools in Bakau or Berending and do not get a chance to see crocodiles, you might be luckier on the river. Various types of crocodiles reside in the river Gambia, among which the Nile crocodile; a reason not to take a refreshing dip into the river.

Summary
Fauna in The Gambia is still researched, and will take years before a complete list is drawn up. Up till now, the following have been discovered:
- 3 larger types of mammals: hippopotamus, warthog and spotted hyena;
- 58 smaller mammals, among which 37 bat types;
- 560 bird species, with at least 220 species brooding in The Gambia
- over 620 fish species, by the coast and in the river
- 72 reptile species, among which 4 sea turtle species, 7 sweet water turtle species, 2 tortoise species, 17 lizard species, 3 types of crocodiles and 37 snake types;
- the 33 types of amphibians include 4 types of toads and 29 frog species.

National Parks
There are various national parks and wild life reserves in The Gambia. Most well-known and open to public is the Abuko Nature Reserve. The Baboon Island National Park, west of JanjangBureh, is partly closed to public. As the name suggests, you may expect lots of baboons here. However, they are found in the wild in The Gambia as well. More importantly, the only chimps left in The Gambia may be found in this reserve.

The Kiang West National Park is open to public, and annually has between 1500 and 2000 visitors. It is the largest nature reserve, with 11,000 hectares, including a visitors’ centre where you can get an impression of The Gambia’s fauna and flora, sometimes with the aid of video footage. You best have a good guide when you visit the park. Also, if you’re visiting Tendaba Camp, a trip to K.W.N.P. is often included. If you visit the park by yourself, please make sure you have equipment and clothing fit for the tropics. Never forget to bring (ample) water. You will even be allowed to cook and spend the night in the park, but only if you’ve had information and permission from one of the park guards. Near all access roads to the park, people know where you can find the park guard. The park is accessible from 5 different villages: Jali, Kolikunda, Baljana, Batteling and Dumbuto (from the main road). You will find various types of tropical trees, mangrove swamps and other types of landscape, such as savannah in the park. Bird life is extremely varied in these surroundings, which is the reason that the park’s symbol is a bateleur eagle. Thanks to the fact that many park- and nature guards are occupied with this park, new bird species, unknown to live in The Gambia as well, are discovered here. The Laughing Falcon, for example, was observed first in 1995. This bird is a snake eater, and was thought only to live in Mexico and Argentina.

In the park, you will find dozens of snake species, but also monkeys, wild boars and other small wildlife. Also, traces of leopards have been found. Most guides will tell you that you might see antelopes, but they have not been seen since a great forest fire in 1974. Several years ago, the remains of a Portuguese trade post were discovered. The few remains (a stone staircase that once formed the access to the post) have been accessible since 1996. The settlement was abandoned in 1816. There are still 4 canons, which were originally on a Portuguese ship that sunk in the river, left in Batteling. Another small one got stolen.

The Abuko Nature Reserve, founded by president Jawara in 1967 on request of an Englishman named Brewer, has remained a real natural park. Here, you can see the jungle as it should be. A 3 km (2 mile) path meanders through this part of untouched nature, and it is ideal for you to admire the various trees and bushes. Liana’s grow through all types of other vegetation, and the oil palms, growing up to over 30 meters (100 ft) tall are really very impressive. The reserve is especially well-known for the great number of birds that reside there. Recently, counting indicated a number over 280 different bird species. At the end of a path, you will find some buildings which give shelter to the animals, but also have a kiosk that sells refreshments. In these shelters, you will see lions (from an exchange programme with the Beekse Bergen zoo near Tilburg), hyenas, antelopes and various small felines. Also, this nature reserve has a rehabilitation centre for monkeys, where specially educated trainers help chimps and gorillas born and raised in captivity to adjust to nature, so they can be placed back into the wild. Zoos from all over the world participate in this project.

On the way to the kiosk with refreshments, you will pass a crocodile pool. The water supply in the pool was initially a natural supply, but it is currently connected to public water supply. There is a look-out by the pool, where you can read all sorts of information about the reserve, and watch crocodiles and the many different types of birds. During the trip through the reserve, you might sometimes be disturbed by activity in the trees, where the monkeys reside. For any spider lovers: the largest spiders found here measured 11 cm (over 4 inches), with a web stretching over 5 meters (over 17 ft). There is only path, so you walk around the path, and with so much variation in the fauna and flora, you will not once have the idea you are seeing the same part twice. Do not forget to bring your binoculars!
 
There are some places that should not officially be mentioned as national parks, but are definitely worth visiting, and easily accessible.

In the direct vicinity of the Sunset Beach Hotel, the Palm Beach Hotel and the Badala Park Hotel, you find pieces of land that flood with high tide. With low tide, these areas dry up, but dozens of sea animal species and fish are washed ashore. The same happens between Bakau and the main road from Banjul-Serrekunda; this area is also easily accessible. If you quietly want to observe or photograph birds, these areas are highly recommended; a true Walhalla for birds and bird watchers! Close to the aforementioned hotels, you can hire a guide and expert in bird species.

The Bijilo Park is within walking distance from the hotels in Kololi, and has a really wide range of bird species, but also monkeys are not ill-represented. This park is a true paradise for bird lovers in the early morning.

You will find so called Forest Parks in many places, an initiative started with lots of foreign help from, for example, Germany. These parks are actually production forests, to prevent that The Gambia’s forests were all chopped, and are usually not freely accessible without accompaniment of a forester. The yielding is usually used for construction of houses etc, and the rest is exported. Villagers in the neighbourhood are free to use wood from the Forest Parks for the preparation of meals. Sale by the villagers is prohibited, because the silvicultures arrange the sale of all excess wood. You will also find orchid horticulture by some of the forestries, for example near the one in Dumboto.
 
The Gambian government becomes more and more protective of the mangrove swamps by the river, but because they provide income for hundreds of families (from oysters), the rules are not too strict yet. In The Gambia, these swamps are referred to as wetlands, and in many places, boat trips are organised, for example by the Baobolong Wetland Reserve near Tendaba. In a very relaxing atmosphere, you can sail through a unique part of nature, inhabited by dozens bird species, hundreds of lizards of any kind and thousands of mudskippers and crabs.

Even though we know very much about The Gambia, and how to spend a carefree vacation there, we do not pretend we have all possible information other than the tourist attractions. TravelPoort has therefore reserved space to show you other websites. Of course, the reference is only for informative purposes; TravelPoort will not take responsibility for the contents and offers on any other website. Websites below are published in various languages, including Dutch, German and English.

General information  
Gambia Startpage - Netherlands 
Gambia Startpage - Belgium 
Gambia Information Website 
Gambia Information Website UK 
Gambia Travelpoort Promotion (video clip) 
Gambia Hotel finder 
Gambia Travel Consultant Paul de Waard 
Ruben’s Gambia Website

Car & Motorbike rental
AB Rent a Car

Adventure
Amsterdam-Dakar rally
Plymouth-Banjul rally
Antwerpen-Banjul rally

Culture, dance and music 
Afrodrum
Djobuga
Jan de Grauw
Odunbeyeland Senegal
African costumes
Bakhkani
Workshop travelling to The Gambia
Roffel-Roffel drum & dinner party
State of Mic

Pictures
The Gambian Experience 2007 by Petra
Michael

Health
Dutch Health Care Service
Dutch National Coordination Center for Tourist Consultancy
Mara

Nature
Gambian Reptiles
Bird watching and Nature tours

Dutch government
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Dutch school vacations

Travel and Stays
Papa's Freedom Lodge Gunjur
Life & Bike
Kerr Sering Apartments
Stala Adventures Kartong
Farakunku Lodge in Tujereng
Tumani Tenda Eco camp
Kairoh Garden Tanji
Real estate Relaxx Gambia
Madiyana Safari Lodge
Marakissa River Camp
Paletuviers Senegal
Jimbana Park
Omakan hotel
Routenet.nl
Schiphol.nl
Safari.Startkabel
Globe Nature tours
Timberland Lodge (GM) & Kelediang Lodge (Senegal)
Equator Lodge
Bakadaji Hotel
Hobotraveler
In sight The Gambia
Garden City Real Estate
Gambia Paradise Club
Guesthouse Diabatalo (Senegal)

Transport
Baggage.nl
Car-go.nl
New packaging hand luggage
Luggage

Training
www.learntolive.nl

Traveller stories
Kijk bij Traveller stories

Visa’s
www.visum.nl

Weather
www.weeronline.nl/Gambia.htm

We've had various requests to inform the visitors of our website about projects in The Gambia. We have decided to do so on a small scale. We will make up a list in which the activities are mentioned, and addresses are given for more information. TravelPoort The Gambia cannot be held responsible for activities of the mentioned foundations and other help organisations. We can mention your (favourite) aiding organisation too, so please find contact details below. Obviously, we need the necessary information, and it is possible that one of our employees visits the project you recommend.

Schools build a school in The Gambia
The Katholieke OnderwijsStichting Oost Gelre (Catholic Education Foundation East Gelre - 14 primary schools in and around Doetinchem) is building a school and ensuring at least 10 years of maintenance, school supplies, etc. The schools have already brought up nearly € 40.000,--; we are looking sponsors for the rest. More information on our special website: Onderwijs Wereldwijs or from co-ordinator Geert Gerritsen, Mars 12, 7071 TR, Ulft. Tel.: 0315 - 632563, e-mail: g.a.gerritsen@hetnet.nl

Give The Gambia a Future
Over 10 years, the foundation "Geef Gambia Toekomst" (Give The Gambia a Future) has worked for a better future for children, adolescents and underpriviliged women in The Gambia. Goals are education, sipport of the health care system and irrigation.

In February 2009 we opened My Future: a skills training centre in Bakau Newtown. Underprivileged adolescents can take computer-, sewing-, and business- & management classes. With good education, the youth can work for their future. Especially girls and young women, who did not have compulsory attendance, and their families are helped to build up an independent future by means of education.

The next project to focus on is a library at the Skills Training Centre. Students can study and browse through all the relevant literature they might need. We hope to have the financial means as fast as possible, so we can start at the end of 2009. In the past years we've accomplished a lot in The Gambia. In early 2007 we opened a library/study centre in Bakau, that is still full with students every day. Earlier, we started an irrigation project with the help of The Tilburgse waterleiding. Gifts of private people, companies and organizations can give The Gambia a better future.
Small gifts also mean a lot to us.
So please support the projects of "Geef Gambia Toekomst" Foundation.
We do our work completely pro-Deo. We pay for our own travelcosts and stay, if we spend half a year in The Gambia to start up and manage the projects. This means all financial support the foundation have, goes directly towards the projects.
We our in The Gambia every year from November - April. If you want to visit one of our projects in this time, please send an e-mail to info@geefgambiatoekomst.nl or call in The Gambia to 44 95 309 or 77 07 349 (mobile).
More information? Geef Gambia Toekomst

Riky Overmars Foundation
The ROF was founded by Riky Overmars in September 2003. Her main area of focus is the inlands of The Gambia, especially the Kiang West district.
Her main goal is to help as many children as possible to go to school with a school sponsoring project. With only a small contribution, it is possible to sponsor a child. From other gifts, renovations of wells and purchase of books and other school materials are made possible.
The foundation has founded a local sister organisation (Chifadep), which helps realizing other projects in Dumbuto and Nioro Jattaba.
Riky Overmars Foundation

Support the BUGANALA foundation
The Buganala foundation wants to help auditorily impaired infants and girls over 15 who have had little education, a chance to get education.
For these target groups, a kindergarten and a skills centre were built in Kanifing.
We are in preparation to build a kindergarten for deaf children in Brikima.
The schools are under responsibility of GADHOH (Gambia Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing).
If you want to visit one of our projects, please send us an e-mail at mail@buganala.nl. Find more information on our website: Buganala

Education for underpriviliged adolescents
The Kunindi foundation provides and manages education for ambitious but underpriviliged adolescents in The Gambia. At the moment, 74 adolescents go to high school, vocational education and university, with the foundation's projects. Moreover, they help the adolescents make good choices for their future, and give the sponsored adolescents in the inlands information about subjects such as malaria, AIDS and female circumcision.
You can find all information on www.kunindi.com or send an e-mail to info@kunindi.com

Give adolescents a chance
We have furniture making business in Manjai where underpriviliged adolescents can work and learn a profession. Later, they will be able to practise this profession independently. Find all the information on www.yoba-gambia.nl or send an e-mail to yoba@hccnet.nl

Make A Difference, Microcredit
Makadif, or Make A Difference, is a private initiative to give (especially) women in The Gambia a better position, using micro credit loans.
For more information, please visit www.makadif.com

Have you ever visited a psychiatric institution in The Gambia? The goal of the "New Campama" committee is improving the living- and working conditions in the psychiatric hospital Campama Mental Hospital in Banjul, by realising new estate. The project deserves support and is gladly brought to your attention by TravelPoort. For more information, please also visit New Campama.

The Kambengo Foundation supports small-scale, tangible and controllable projects in health care, vocational training, agriculture and employment. Kambengo grants scholarships for vocational training, supplies medication and helps self-employed females with the use of micro credit. For more information, please visit Kambengo Nederland.

St. Bakoteh supports education, (health)institutions and projects, and sponsors children going to school. For more information, contact Jan Willem and Nancy van den Bos at tel. +31(0)46 - 475 36 73, send an e-mail to info@bakoteh.com or visit our website: Bakoteh.

St. Care Foundation The Gambia supports schools and (health)institutions in The Gambia. For more information, send Ineke de Rijk an e-mail at inekederijk@gmail.com, or visit the website: Care Foundation The Gambia.

St. Yagana World for the poor
Yagana

Health/education project: Alied en Freek-Jan ter Steege, tel. +31(0)528 - 262 017, e-mail:steege@home.nl. Or visit our website: Stichting Baobab Nursery

St. Jimbana builds a tourist camp with facilities that help the people, such as a bakery, with and for the inhabitants of Bakalarr (on the north banks of the river Gambia, close to Barra). The foundation also participates in building schools and a clinic in the area. A linehouse with 4 homes is finished and in March 2007, a new house will be added, suitable for 6 adults and 2 children. Please also visit Jimbana Park.

St. Sambakala builds schools in Sambakala and supports these in the broad sense. For more information, call +31(0) 76 - 596 33 80, fax +31(0)76 - 596 61 27, or send an e-mail: knapphay@westbrabant.net

Vanina supports and stimulates projects and starting self-employed in The Gambia. For more information, call +31(0)36 - 540 15 31, send a fax to +31(0)36 - 540 15 32, or an e-mail at vanina@planet.nl.

"St. Humanitaire Hulp Gambia" (Humanitarian Help The Gambia) labours to improve the social climate of the Gambian people, education and health care. Please visit our website: www.stichtinghumanitairehulpgambia.nl

St. "Laat Gambia Leren" (Let The Gambia Learn) provides the means for underpriviliged children to receive education and lets their surroundings profit from sponsoring money, for example by the construction of a well, etc. For more information, visit our website: www.laatgambialeren.nl.

Ivonne en Fred Hulsebos labour for a project that provides children in The Gambia with help in the broadest sense: education, health care, support with emergency aids, etc. Please visit Child support The Gambia.

Support of a school for mentally handicapped people in The Gambia. Henk and Els Jonker (tel. +31(0)528-266969) support the Methodist Special School at the M.D.I. Road in Kanifing South. Please find information on the website: Henk Jonker, or send an e-mail to jonkerhenk@kpnplanet.nl.

Project Picca is a well-known project in The Gambia thanks to the Jammeh Foundation. Help is offered to a school in Kerr Sering, which has 101 children in 1 class. We bought land and built the foundations, and are now trying to finance the rest of the building project. Other than class rooms, we are also building a workshop for adolescents. Please visit Picca Foundation. You are welcome to visit us if you are in The Gambia! We are not far from Kololi.

St. Wilko Gambia Foundation (Netherlands) thinks it is of utmost importance that young children have the possibility to go to school from early age on. After all, they will determine the future of The Gambia! Do you want to help? Visit Wilko Gambia Foundation.

 
St. Sharanie
Goal: help the children from the slums to go to school (now 20 children) to offer them a better future. You can adopt from € 30,- per year. Please visit our website for more information.
This year, the project "mothers with babies" is started. Young unwedded poor mothers with a baby, who choose to die with their baby, rather than giving it up to SOS, because they are too poor to sustain their child. This is a major problem in The Gambia. We spoke to minister about this, and we are talking about more than 1000 mothers! We want to offer food parcels, but this is very expensive, so we need your help! You can also adopt these babies financially. If you want more information about this or other projects, please visit our website: St. Sharanie, or send an e-mail to nelart@gmail.com.

Children in Gambia

Gambia - Mariamakunda

Kambengo Germany (No relations with kambengo.nl)

Senegambia Group: cooperating aid organisations

Insight The Gambia

Future for young people
St. Future for Young People labours to offer a future to children and adolescents in The Gambia, providing educational tools, financial support to schools, and building a youth centre in Tanji, where we want to offer adolescents a chance to education, culture and sports. Activities linked to this youth centre will help the adolescents to earn money to pay for their educational costs.

St. Division Multiplies ("Delen Vermenigvuldigt")

Gifts to Gambia
“Small gifts in any way where ever needed”
Gifts to Gambia is a foundation registered in England since 2008, with the number 1120866. Unfortunately, The Gambia is an underdeveloped country that needs all the help it can get. Our goal is to offer small-scale help wherever needed, so we can stay involved personally. 

Zeeland helps The Gambia
The goal of the ZeeGam foundation is to realise approximately ten "growing centres" along the river Gambia, that can somehow be related to the river, such as agriculture, transport and tourism. The goal is to help the local people to get a solid income, and make them less dependent on third parties.
ZeeGam cooperates with the HogeSchool Zeeland, and wants to develop these projects in cooperation with the Dutch and Gambian authorities, and of course with the local people. We are not only looking for financial help, but especially for actual help and knowledge. It would be amazing to combine this with an unforgettable vacation in The Gambia.

Tel. Netherlands: +31(0)115 - 562 920.
Tel. The Gambia: 00220 - 998 8900.