Resources

The Gambia

The Gambia is a narrow strip of country that stretches inland from the beautiful West African coast, following the course of the majestic River Gambia. It may be the s,allest country in Africa, sandwiched between north and south Senegal. The capital of The Gambia, banjul, stands on the south side of the magnificent river estury, a worthy commercial centre that for tourists is little more than the gateway to the hoteks soread along the 25 miles of beautiful sandy coastline.

River Gambia National Park (Baboon Island)

About 100 miles east of the Atlantic coast, the vegetation changes from swamps to thick forests, and many islands appear in the river. Five of these, the largest of which is Baboon Island, form a park known for it's chimpanzee-rehabilitation project designed to reacclimate chimps from labs and zoos to return to the wild. The park has been conducted on the Islands since 1979. There are currently about fifty Chimpanzees living on three of the islands. The population is steadily increasing through births. In addition to reintroducing an indigenous species to the country, the existence of the project in the River Gambia National Park has assisted in protecting the forest and its resources from over exploitation. The Department of Parks and Wildlife Management and the CRP work hand in hand for the protection of the park and its environs.

The species disappeared from the Gambia in the early 1900's. The CRP is a private organisation which provides a natural life for chimpanzees caughts during illegal trading and confiscated by government authorities. Rehabilitation is a long term process requiring much time and care for the orphans to recover, both emotionally and physically, from capture. During this period the orphamned animals learn to improve survival skills, including foraging for food, building nests and responding appropriately to hazardous animals or predators. Their adaption is closely studied both before and fater release into the natural habitat.

The CRP operates an education programme. Slide shows emphasising the similarities between humans and chips and the threats to their continued survival are presented in villages and schools surrounding the national park. The goals of the programme are to create an awareness and sympathy for the acute vulnerability this species is experiencing as well as encourage general awareness.

Katchikali Crocodile Pool

A sacred pool in Gambia's tourist town of Bakau has become a major attraction for foregin visitors in the West African country. The pool, discovered hundreds of years ago by the natives of Bakau some 14 km (8 miles) from the capital Banjul, is home to more than 100 crocodiles.

Fort Bullen

The British built this for in 1826 to protect the trading route of the Gambia river and repel any attackes 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.

National Museum

If it's history your looking for then look no further than the Gambia National Museum. Its displays of photographs, maps and text about archaeology, African peoples and the colonial period should keep you enchanted for a long time to come.

www.ncac.gm/banjul.html

Stone Circles

These are the famed stone circles of West Africa. They consist of rings of up to 8 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.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senegambian_stone_circles

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For further information relating to visiting and history of the The Gambia please see below: