Best Things to Do in Banjul

A visit to Banjul combines the nineteenth-century streets and river ferries of St Mary's Island with the wildlife reserves, mangrove creeks and Atlantic beaches just across Denton Bridge. Here are the ten experiences that define The Gambia's capital region.

1. Climb Arch 22 for a 360-degree panorama over Banjul Island. Stand on the open-air upper gallery of the 35-metre ceremonial archway at the entrance to Independence Drive to look out across the Gambia River estuary, Oyster Creek mangroves and the roofs of the capital.
2. Explore the fabric and spice lanes of Albert Market. Established on Liberation Avenue in the mid-nineteenth century, Banjul's historic market separates neatly into fresh produce, indigo-and-wax textiles, leather sandals and upstairs woodcarvers' stalls.
3. Visit Kachikally Crocodile Pool and Ethnographic Museum in Bakau. Walk beneath giant fig and mahogany trees to the sacred spring-fed pool cared for by the Bojang family, where dozens of habituated West African Nile crocodiles bask on the banks.
4. Walk the gallery rainforest of Abuko Nature Reserve. Follow shaded earthen footpaths past Darwin's Pool to spot Western red colobus monkeys, green vervet monkeys, bushbuck, Nile monitors and over 270 species of forest and water birds.
5. Full-day river excursion to UNESCO-listed Kunta Kinteh Island and Juffureh. Cross on the Banjul-Barra ferry to 1826 Fort Bullen, then travel upriver to the ruined stone bastions of Kunta Kinteh Island (formerly James Island) and the museum at Albreda and Juffureh.
6. Stroll through Bijilo Forest Park (Monkey Park) and Kotu Beach. Follow coastal palm and baobab trails alongside troops of endangered red colobus and green vervet monkeys right beside the Atlantic sand.
7. Early-morning birdwatching at Kotu Bridge and Oyster Creek. Join an accredited local ornithological guide along the tidal creek to spot malachite and woodland kingfishers, blue-bellied rollers and goliath herons.
8. Take a wooden pirogue through the mangroves from Lamin Lodge. Glide along calm tidal bolongs lined with oyster-encrusted mangrove roots and watch women harvest oysters along the creek banks.
9. Watch the late-afternoon fishing fleet at Tanji Fish Market. Drive thirty minutes south along the Atlantic coast to see hundreds of painted pirogues land bonga fish, barracuda and snapper beside traditional beachfront smokehouses.
10. Savour creamy peanut domoda and chilled baobab bouye juice. Enjoy The Gambia's signature groundnut stew and one-pot benachin rice accompanied by live twenty-one-string kora music.