Banjul

Capital at the mouth of the Gambia River with Atlantic beach resorts nearby; see Arch 22, Albert Market, the Kachikally Crocodile Pool and Abuko Nature Reserve, and take a boat upriver to Kunta Kinteh Island, a World Heritage Site.

Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, sits on St Mary's Island on the south bank of the Gambia River mouth. The city is tiny, with fewer than 50,000 residents; most visitors stay in the Atlantic resort strip about 15 km to the west — Bakau, Kotu, Kololi (Senegambia Strip) and Bijilo — where hotels, restaurants and nightlife are concentrated. In Banjul itself, half a day is enough to see Arch 22, the National Museum, Albert Market and the King Fahad Mosque; Bakau's Kachikally Crocodile Pool, Abuko Nature Reserve and Bijilo's "Monkey Park" are all close to the resorts. The Gambia is one of West Africa's top birdwatching destinations, and kingfishers, bee-eaters and hornbills are easy to spot at Kotu Creek, Tanji Bird Reserve and the mangrove wetlands. The classic day trip is a boat ride up the Gambia River, or via the Barra ferry, to the World Heritage Site of Kunta Kinteh Island, Juffureh — the ancestral home in "Roots" — and the slave trade museum at Albreda; another route heads south along the coast to Tanji fishing village, Sanyang Beach and Kartong, or inland to Makasutu Culture Forest. The dry season from November to May is sunny with little rain and is the peak holiday season; the rainy season from June to October is hot, humid and buggy. Yellow fever vaccination and malaria precautions are advised; the currency is the dalasi (GMD), and agree on taxi fares before you set off. Plan on 4–7 days, mainly beach time with short excursions.

Top sights

• Arch 22 – A 35-meter monumental arch at the entrance to Banjul, with a top-floor viewing gallery overlooking the capital and the mouth of the Gambia…
• Kunta Kinteh Island – A UNESCO World Heritage island in the Gambia River, where the ruins of a 17th-century fort bear witness to the history of the West African…
• Gambia National Museum – The national museum in central Banjul, showcasing The Gambia's ethnic groups, musical instruments, and the history of colonialism and the s…
• Albert Market – The capital's old market, opened in the mid-19th century, where fabrics, spices, crafts and a fish market fill a maze of stalls.
• King Fahad Mosque – A large mosque built in 1988 with Saudi funding. Its twin minarets and green dome are part of Banjul's skyline.
• Juffureh & Albreda – Two villages across from Kunta Kinteh Island, where Roots author Alex Haley traced his ancestry. Home to a slave trade museum and the Freed…
• Fort Bullen – A 19th-century British fort on the north bank of the Gambia River at Barra Point, part of the World Heritage site, overlooking Banjul acros…
• Kartong – A village at the southern tip of the Gambian coast, with a bird-watching station, a sacred crocodile pool, a reptile farm and empty beaches.

Where to eat

• Ali Baba Snack Bar – A popular snack bar on Nelson Mandela Street in Banjul's old town, next to Albert Market, known for its shawarma and fa…
• Ngala Lodge Restaurant – A boutique restaurant on Atlantic Boulevard in Fajara, with a raised garden overlooking the Atlantic, known for seafood…

Itineraries

• Senegambia & Upper Gambia River Loop – A two-country loop heading south from Dakar through The Gambia, visiting Kunta Kinteh Island and the upper river before…
• West Africa Six-Country Overland – An epic overland journey heading south from Dakar through six countries to Monrovia, including the Bijagós Archipelago.