Thursday, March 27, 2025 – Photo of the Day – Banjul, The Gambia

Where in the World Are We?

We are in Banjul, The Gambia, on the west coast of Africa.

BANJUL, THE GAMBIA
A place of scorched sunlight and faded colonial history
Emerging from The Gambia’s wild mangrove swamps, Banjul sits where the River Gambia’s yawning mouth opens up to meet the salty tang of the Atlantic. Punctuated by a soaring 35-metre arched gateway, constructed following the coup d’etat that broke out in 1994, The Gambia’s capital is a place of scorched sunlight and faded colonial history, which provides flavours of laidback beachside relaxation mixed with exotic old-world African seaport charm.

Despite its capital status, Banjul’s 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 sensory overload hit.

A beloved gathering spot since the 19th century, the market is a riot of colour, with spit-and-nail stalls buckling below the weight of print fabrics, salt-crusted fish, and colourful textiles. While the market can be a disorienting whir of activity, the city tends to move at a more 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 treasure 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 descale 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 colourful market. It is bustling and full of color. This primary city market has three sections. One is for food—meats, produce, and dry goods; another hawks clothing, housewares, and other everyday needs; and 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, and hats.

Today’s Excursion – Banjul & Serrakunda
Banjul National Museum
Depart the pier by motorcoach and drive to and visit the Banjul National Museum. The Museum and the contributions made by
Gambians to the arts, religion, politics, sports, and technology, shown in photos, and archaeological finds describing the African people and their colonial period. It houses three floors of exhibits. The ground floor displays the political and cultural history of
the nation’s capital, Banjul. 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 Photo stop
Make a brief stop to photograph Arch 22 (built in 1996), commemorating 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 arch’s base: 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
Then drive to Bakau Katchikally and visit 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 city’s founding families and major

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

Dinner was in The Atlantide Restaurant