Southern Senegal’s Casamance Region felt like a place of transitions to me. For one, this is where the drier Sahel Zone to the north gives way to the more tropical landscapes of the southern parts of West Africa for the first time. Apart from that, there’s a mixture of cultural traditions, languages and religions that…
A Travel Guide to Senegal’s Haute Casamance Region
Senegal’s Haute Casamance is said to be the least visited part of the country, and judging by the tiny amount of other toubabs I spotted, this certainly seems to be true. This also means that traveling in the area gives you as candid a glimpse into everyday Senegalese life as you’re likely to get. I…
A Guide to Bijilo Forest Park aka. Monkey Park in Bijilo, The Gambia
Bijilo Forest Park (aka. Monkey Park) is a good destination if you need a break from beach loungers and bumsters while you’re hanging around The Gambia’s northern coast. The little patch of coastal forest sits conveniently on the edge of the main tourist zone – just a few minutes from the main strip in Kololi….
How to Spend a Great Half Day in Banjul, The Gambia’s Sleepy Capital
Banjul certainly is one of the more unusual capitals I’ve come across. Contrary to many West African cities, it has a laid-back, sleepy vibe and feels a bit fallen out of time. Compared to energetic and chaotic Serekunda, it almost feels like a slightly bigger village. I guess this is exactly why I enjoyed exploring…
Visiting Wassu, Kerr Batch and Other Megalithic Stone Circles in The Gambia
As an archaeologist, the impressive Senegambian Stone Circles were one of the main reasons I wanted to explore little-visited upriver Gambia. Scattered across a region of about 30,000 km2, there are more than a thousand of these structures, both in The Gambia and across the border in Senegal. I sought out quite a few of…
Chimpanzee-Spotting and Other Cool Things to Do in River Gambia National Park
The River Gambia National Park was one of my absolute highlights on my recent trip to The Gambia. Since the end of the 1970s, chimpanzees have been gradually reintroduced to the country by settling them in the park, and you can visit them by taking a boat tour around four islands in the river. Apart…
What to Know About Visiting The Gambia’s Sacred Crocodile Pools
The Gambia’s three sacred crocodile pools are one of the more unusual attractions I came across on my recent trip through the country. While at least one of them sees a fair number of visitors, they’re not tourist attractions in the classic sense and are still actively used by locals for animist rituals. Kachikally is…
The Best Areas to Stay in The Gambia
While traveling through The Gambia, I was surprised by the fact that I hardly came across any other travelers once I moved upriver. In fact, most other toubabs I met based themselves in one of the coastal areas and explored the country from there. While I enjoyed moving around the country independently, I could also…
The Perfect One- and Two-Week-Itineraries for The Gambia
Continental Africa’s smallest country might look tiny on a map, but let me assure you: there are tons of different things to see and do here. While checking out The Gambia’s many traces of colonial history, its pretty beaches and three awesome National Parks, I certainly didn’t get bored on my travels. Most people visiting…
How to Backpack The Gambia on a Budget
The Gambia is often referred to as ‘West Africa for Beginners’ and after traveling the country for a couple of weeks I can definitely second that opinion. For one, the majority of people are incredibly friendly and welcoming. Apart from that, I found the coastal regions to have a surprisingly good tourist infrastructure, with tons…