KAJAMORLODGE AND BAR: May 2013

The Smilling coast of the Gambia

* Abuko Nature Reserve. open daily 8AM-6.30PM. Nature park situated outside the village of Lamin in the Kombo North District, 25 km from Banjul. At 105 hectares it is one of the smallest (if not the smallest) protected areas in Africa, but it still offers a good introduction to the Gambian wildlife. For instance there's monkeys, crocodiles and some 300 species of birds GMD 35.

* Kachikally Crocodile Pool. very popular, many crocodiles (West African Nile Crocs), opportunity to touch/pat West African Nile Crocodiles. GMD 50.

* Sanyang Beach. One of the most beautiful beaches in The Gambia. Rainbow Beach Bar is a great place to spend the day, and also has a few affordable rooms for staying the night. Public transport leaves from Serrakunda and Brikama regularly, and private taxis can also be hired for day trips.

* Four Wheel Drive Adventure. Very popular tours visiting schools, country homes, and distilleries.

* James Island (Roots tour). An excursion inspired by Alex Haley's bestseller and movie Roots. You can go there on cruise up the centre of the wide Gambia river, towards the former French trading post of Albreda and the village of Juffureh. Views of the river bank are distant. Visit the setting of Roots, an old slave trade station. Tourists are overwhelmed by locals who appear only when the boat arrives, and disappear when the boat leaves. Locals are persistent in begging for money and thrusting craft items under tourists noses. Locals insist on being paid to appear in photos. Or you go by car, e.g. with th official tourist guides on the small roads on the North Bank and sail in a pirogue from Juffareh.

* Senegal — 1-3 day trips. Warning — non-EU citizens such as New Zealanders and Australians must obtain a visa. The application takes 3 days.

* Gambia River National Park. Beautiful national park below Janjanbureh. The camp is pricey, but worth the money. They will organize boat tours to see chimpanzees, baboons, monkeys, crocodiles, etc.

* Kora is the main music instrument of the Mandinka tribe, and could be considered the national instrument of Gambia. It is 21-stringed and built from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator. It sounds like a mixture of harp and flamenco guitar. Real koras can be very expensive but small souvenir versions are also available.

* Tailor made clothes can be bought at cheap prices.

* wood carvings

* wooden masks

* african drums

* hand-woven table runners and place mats.

* Batik and tie-dye fabric.

typical craft shop

[edit][add listing] Eat

* Benachin or Jollof rice — a traditional West African rice dish with onions, spices, tomatoes or tomato paste mixed with meat, fish or vegetables.

* Chicken Yassa — chicken boiled with onion, black pepper and lime or lemon.

* Domoda — meat stew with rice and peanut butter sauce.

* Lots and lots of peanuts, the main crop of The Gambia.

* International food. Please don't be put off by what you may here about Gambian cuisine, everything may come with rice but don't forget rice is a staple in most of the world. But if your after something your stomach is used to then their is a plethara of International restaurants to choose from where you can have a Chinese or Indian curry good old fish & chips or Japanese noodles, theres also Thai, Lebanese, German, Dutch and Mexican, in fact for UK visitors theirs also the Great British Fry Up. In fact food in Gambia is truly International and the fish is to die for. edit

* International Food, [3]. Do not be put off by the thought of only eating Gambian food in Gambia and it's very good to, you can also get in the tourist areas along the coast cullinary delights fron China, India, Lebanon, Japan, England, Germany, Holland and many others. In fact an area called "The Strip" in Kololi has 28 restaurant/bars serving all these delights. The average price for a meal is about £5.00 so you can see it is a lot cheaper to eat here than at home.

* Gambia's own beer, Julbrew[4] is worth a try. It's made by Banjul Breweries, who also make soft drinks.

* Palm Wine is juice from palmtrees that is collected and fermented. It is used as a kind of wine by the locals, and you may get a chance to try it if you go on a tour to rural Gambia.

* Baobab juice

Baobab fruit

* Spirits. You can most of the well known spirits and liqueurs in the tourist areas along the coastal strip edit

* Spitits, Beers & Cigarettes. Julbrew is a lager based beer, it is mainly sold in bottles but you can get in a draught form which is a lot less gassey than the bottled. You can get most of the spirits you would expect to find at home and they are still a lot cheaper than the Costas, Greece or Turkey. Whisky, Rum, Gin, Vodka, Brandy are freely available as well as Curacao and Tia Maria. Cigarettes can be bought very cheaply at around £2.50, Euro 2.80 per 200 pack from all the main supermarkets or in the tourist areas.

There are many luxury 4 and 5 star resorts along the Atlantic coastline. Further in land there are eco camps and lodges which offer basic accommodation usually in natural surroundings.

Work

Stay safe

Many of Gambia's unemployed young men have discovered that engaging (and sometimes hassling) tourists can be as rewarding as a real job. It's not a coincidence that there's a name for such persons: Bumster. Be prepared for personal questions, sob stories, not-asked-for "favors" and self-proclaimed friendship, all with the purpose of winning your favor or opening your wallet. Those not desiring such attention must use a combination of polite declination, wit, and when necessary firm refusal, if they want to be left alone.

There are a number of very commonly used scams in the Gambia. If someone stops you on the street, they may tell you that they remember you from the hotel you're staying at and that they work there. They may invite you to another hotel, but this could be a scam to attempt to rob you. Also, because people are constantly looking for ways to support themselves, if they offer you assistance or directions, it may be understood that they expect some monetary compensation.

Scams also exist in which marijuana is offered to tourists or they are are invited to come smoke in a home, only to find police waiting for a hefty bribe.

A simple "Sorry, I am in a hurry" could suffice to dismiss them. But don't tell them why you are in a hurry and don't say anything else after that as this may lead to a conversation — and this could lead to unwanted attention and possibly a scam.

Also remember that some Bumsters are not unemployed or young and never fall for hardship stories. One last word of warning: should you feel you want to give a person some money out of sympathy or just to get rid of them it will certainly lead them to ask you for more money at a later date should you meet again. Some recommend a stern and harsh response to such requests, but this should be informed by your values and the relationship formed with the individual in question. Keep in mind, however, that you may see this person again, and they could truly be helpful if you're in a jam or need information. Many people in tourist areas are merely 'friendly facilitators' who may hope for an exchange of favors, but are genuinely harmless. Being overly guarded could deny you an offer to join a local family for a traditional meal, or to personally meet one of the craftspeople who make the local goods for sale.

The Gambia is a great holiday destination but just keep your guard up at all times.

When swimming, be aware that the currents in the Atlantic waters can be strong. Always look out for flags on the tourist beaches indicating the level of danger on a red — yellow — green scale.

Be careful about your political opinions, as such critical opinions against the government is considered a crime.

Gays should note that they could be in extreme danger in Gambia. See the following articles:

Gambia Gay Death Threat Condemned [5]

Gambian Police Arrest Two Spanish Men for "Homosexual Proposals" [6]

Stay healthy

Yellow fever vaccination is strongly recommended. Meningitis vaccination is recommended. Anti-malaria pills are also necessary. Most cases of malaria in the Gambia are contracted between June and December. Mefloquine, Doxycycline or Malarone are the medicines of choice for the Gambia, and for most of sub-Saharan Africa, because of the increasing chloroquine resistance.

It is a good idea to bring insect repellent, sunscreen and other health items from your home country since these may be hard to find in some areas.

[edit] Respect

Always ask before you take a photo of anyone. Some Gambians have certain beliefs about having their picture taken, in particular by a stranger.

* Senegal is both north and south of Gambia. There are excursion to e.g. Fathala Reserve just north of the border.