Claire’s guidebook
Sightseeing
The crocodile pool:
Visit the Crocodile Pool in Katchikally – touch the mystical crocodiles at the mangrove pool and meet the famous “Charlie the Crocodile.” It is probably the closest you will ever get to a crocodile in the wild! The crocodile pool is also home to a range of birdlife as well as monitor lizards and monkeys.
Whilst there, do pop in the local museum of Katchikally and find out about the history of Gambia, including folklore, music and dance
Stop for a drink in a beachside café and relax by the Atlantic coast
On return, drop into the local craft market in Bakau and bargain to your heart’s content
23 locals recommend
Kachikally Crocodile Pool
The crocodile pool:
Visit the Crocodile Pool in Katchikally – touch the mystical crocodiles at the mangrove pool and meet the famous “Charlie the Crocodile.” It is probably the closest you will ever get to a crocodile in the wild! The crocodile pool is also home to a range of birdlife as well as monitor lizards and monkeys.
Whilst there, do pop in the local museum of Katchikally and find out about the history of Gambia, including folklore, music and dance
Stop for a drink in a beachside café and relax by the Atlantic coast
On return, drop into the local craft market in Bakau and bargain to your heart’s content
Makasutu Forest
At Makasutu's Base Camp, an impressively tall, white viewing tower with 3 elevated viewing platforms displays a majestic view. From here you can take in fantastic vistas of the palm trees, mangrove creeks, the Mandina Bolong and savanna habitats. Cool off in the quiet swimming pool with its own island, sor take a trip up the river in a pirogue. If you keep quiet, you are also likely to spot the baboons who wander through the forest and pop to the pool for a drink.
Visitors can also do a little shopping at the Craft Centre, where you can pick up wooden masks, drums and other tourist souvenirs.
Makasutu
Makasutu Forest
At Makasutu's Base Camp, an impressively tall, white viewing tower with 3 elevated viewing platforms displays a majestic view. From here you can take in fantastic vistas of the palm trees, mangrove creeks, the Mandina Bolong and savanna habitats. Cool off in the quiet swimming pool with its own island, sor take a trip up the river in a pirogue. If you keep quiet, you are also likely to spot the baboons who wander through the forest and pop to the pool for a drink.
Visitors can also do a little shopping at the Craft Centre, where you can pick up wooden masks, drums and other tourist souvenirs.
In the 18th century, a slave refused to give up his African name Kunta Kinteh, for a European name, Toby, At a huge cost. Fast-forward to two centuries later, an African America, Alex Haley, embarked on an almost impossible task of finding out where his ancestors lived. Alex was lucky, his ancestor was the proud Madinka warrior who refused to abandon his name “Kunta Kinte” centuries earlier. Alex Haley’s quest to find his roots produced the Pulitzer Award winning novel: “Roots: The Saga of an American Family.” and laid the path into an enlightening trip into a dark historical page of Euro-African relations.
To see and learn what Alex learnt, tour these historical Gambian sites using with a local company, travelling by boat to the historical formar slave colony on James Island and visit the town of Alex Haylet’s birth.
We recommend you use a local tour company such as West Africa Tours for this trip.
11 locals recommend
Kunta Kinteh Island
In the 18th century, a slave refused to give up his African name Kunta Kinteh, for a European name, Toby, At a huge cost. Fast-forward to two centuries later, an African America, Alex Haley, embarked on an almost impossible task of finding out where his ancestors lived. Alex was lucky, his ancestor was the proud Madinka warrior who refused to abandon his name “Kunta Kinte” centuries earlier. Alex Haley’s quest to find his roots produced the Pulitzer Award winning novel: “Roots: The Saga of an American Family.” and laid the path into an enlightening trip into a dark historical page of Euro-African relations.
To see and learn what Alex learnt, tour these historical Gambian sites using with a local company, travelling by boat to the historical formar slave colony on James Island and visit the town of Alex Haylet’s birth.
We recommend you use a local tour company such as West Africa Tours for this trip.
Sanyang
A great local beach
Food scene
Senegambia Hotel
Pop along to Senegambia Hotel for 11am and watch the staff feed the vultures in the extensive gardens. It is quite a sight as the vultures swoop down with their massive wing span, and take a bath under the hose after they have eaten their fill. Walk through the gardens in the hotel, and it will not take long before you spot a family of monkeys out for a stroll, or you might even spot the resident monitor lizrd.
Finish off with a cool beer or refreshing cocktail from one of the hotel’s bars.
This trip can be arranged with local taxis to drop off and collect you. Guide not needed.
Senegambia Beach Hotel
KololiSenegambia Hotel
Pop along to Senegambia Hotel for 11am and watch the staff feed the vultures in the extensive gardens. It is quite a sight as the vultures swoop down with their massive wing span, and take a bath under the hose after they have eaten their fill. Walk through the gardens in the hotel, and it will not take long before you spot a family of monkeys out for a stroll, or you might even spot the resident monitor lizrd.
Finish off with a cool beer or refreshing cocktail from one of the hotel’s bars.
This trip can be arranged with local taxis to drop off and collect you. Guide not needed.