Kololi is one of The Gambia’s most vibrant and tourist-friendly areas, located along the Atlantic coast near Serrekunda. It’s known for its lively atmosphere, wide beach, and as a base for exploring nearby attractions. Here’s what you can do in Kololi:

Beach & Relaxation

• Kololi Beach: Long stretches of golden sand perfect for swimming, sunbathing, or enjoying a drink at one of the many beach bars.

• Resort Life: Many hotels offer pools, wellness centers, and beachfront lounges where you can relax in comfort.

• Sunset Views: The beach is famous for its stunning sunsets over the Atlantic.

Dining & Nightlife

• Senegambia Strip: The heart of Kololi’s nightlife, filled with restaurants, bars, and clubs. Options range from Gambian dishes like domoda and benachin to international cuisines.

• Live Music & Dance: Many venues host live bands, kora (West African harp) performances, or cultural dance shows.

• Beach Bars: Casual spots to enjoy fresh seafood, cocktails, and a relaxed vibe right on the sand.

Shopping & Markets

• Craft Markets: Stalls around Senegambia offer handmade jewelry, wood carvings, batik fabrics, and souvenirs.

• Local Shopping: Vendors often sell colorful textiles, traditional clothes, and artworks—bargaining is part of the fun.

Nature & Day Trips Nearby

• Bijilo Forest Park (Monkey Park): Just a short walk away, this nature reserve is home to monkeys, birdlife, and nature trails through the forest and dunes.

• Birdwatching: The area around Kololi is a good base for birding excursions—guides can take you to wetlands and mangroves nearby.

• Boat Trips: Arrange a pirogue or fishing trip along the river estuaries not far from Kololi.

Cultural & Local Experiences

• Cooking Classes: Some local hosts offer Gambian cooking experiences.

• Drumming & Dance Workshops: Learn traditional rhythms with skilled performers.

• Fishing Village Visits: A short trip to Tanji lets you see a bustling fish market and colorful pirogues at the shore.

James Island—today officially known as Kunta Kinteh Island—is one of The Gambia’s most significant historical sites. It sits in the Gambia River, not far from Juffureh village, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site tied to the history of the transatlantic slave trade.

Here’s what you can do when visiting:

Historical Exploration

• Ruins of Fort James: Walk among the remnants of the 17th-century fort, built by the British and later contested by French and other European powers. The ruins include crumbling walls, cannon emplacements, and cell-like structures.

• Slave Trade History: Learn about the island’s role as a holding point for enslaved Africans before they were shipped across the Atlantic. The site offers a powerful and sobering perspective on this period.

• Interpretive Displays: Some guided tours and plaques explain the island’s changing control and its symbolic significance.

Cultural Context

• Kunta Kinteh Connection: The island is linked to Alex Haley’s Roots, which traces the author’s ancestry back to Kunta Kinteh of Juffureh village. Many tours combine the island with a visit to Juffureh, where you can meet local griots (oral historians).

• Guided Tours: Local guides share both historical facts and oral traditions, offering deeper cultural understanding.

Scenic Aspects

• River Views: The boat ride to the island offers sweeping views of the Gambia River, mangroves, and passing fishing boats.

• Photography: The contrast of ruined stone walls against the river backdrop makes for atmospheric photos.

Practical Experience

• Boat Trip: Access is only by pirogue or motorboat, often organized through tour operators from Banjul or Barra. The ride itself is part of the adventure.

• Combined Excursion: Visits are usually paired with Juffureh village and sometimes other upriver cultural sites, making it a half- or full-day trip.

Abuko Nature Reserve, about 25 minutes from Banjul and close to Serrekunda, is The Gambia’s oldest protected area and one of its most accessible wildlife destinations. Despite its modest size (about 260 acres), it’s rich in biodiversity and offers a real taste of West African forest and savannah ecosystems. Here’s what you can do there:

Wildlife Viewing

• Monkeys: Spot vervet monkeys and red colobus monkeys, often active near the trails.

• Antelope & Reptiles: Small antelopes like duikers roam the forest, and you might see monitor lizards, crocodiles, and snakes.

• Birdwatching: With more than 270 bird species recorded, it’s a top spot for ornithologists. Highlights include bee-eaters, turacos, hornbills, and kingfishers.

Nature Walks

• Forest Trails: Well-marked walking paths take you through gallery forest, savannah, and wetlands.

• Guided Tours: Local guides can point out hidden wildlife, medicinal plants, and ecological details that you might miss on your own.

Lamin Stream & Crocodile Pool

• Crocodile Viewing: A pool near Lamin Stream houses Nile crocodiles—often seen basking.

• Observation Hides: Raised viewing platforms give safe, close-up looks at wildlife in and around the wetlands.

An upriver excursion in The Gambia takes you beyond the coast into the heart of the Gambia River, where you’ll discover history, wildlife, and traditional village life. It’s one of the country’s most rewarding journeys, whether you go on a day trip or a multi-day river cruise. Here’s what you can see:

Historic & Cultural Sites

• Kunta Kinteh Island (James Island): UNESCO-listed ruins of Fort James, central to the history of the slave trade. Often combined with a stop at Juffureh village, made famous by Alex Haley’s Roots.

• Janjanbureh (Georgetown): A historic town in the Central River Region with colonial-era architecture, churches, and its own role in the river trade.

• Local Villages: Stops at riverside communities give you a chance to meet villagers, learn about traditional crafts, farming, and daily Gambian life.

Wildlife & Nature

• River Gambia National Park: A highlight of the upriver journey, this protected area is home to hippos, crocodiles, manatees, and rich birdlife.

• Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project (Baboon Islands): While you cannot step onto the islands themselves, boat trips allow you to spot chimpanzees in their semi-wild habitat.

• Birdwatching: The upriver wetlands are rich in species such as fish eagles, herons, storks, and pelicans.

River Scenery

• Mangroves & Floodplains: Upriver journeys showcase the changing river landscapes, from wide estuaries to narrower channels shaded by trees.

• Sunsets on the River: Particularly striking upriver, with glowing skies reflected on the calm waters.

Experiential Highlights

• Pirogue & Boat Rides: Wooden boats or motorized pirogues are used to reach islands and reserves, offering close encounters with wildlife.

• Eco-Lodges: Staying overnight upriver (in Tendaba Camp or lodges near Janjanbureh) gives you a rustic but immersive experience.

• Cultural Performances: In some villages, drumming, dance, and storytelling are arranged for visitors.

Tanji Fishing Village, located along The Gambia’s Atlantic coast about 30 km from Banjul, is one of the most authentic and vibrant places to experience Gambian coastal life. It’s not a tourist “show” but a real working community, offering sights, sounds, and flavors that immerse you in local tradition. Here’s what you can do there:

Fishing & Boats

• Colorful Pirogues: Watch hundreds of brightly painted wooden fishing boats return to shore in the late afternoon, loaded with the day’s catch.

• Boat Landings: Fishermen unload baskets of fish—sardines, barracuda, catfish, snapper—while women sort, weigh, and carry them to market.

• Photography: The bustle of boats, people, and seagulls against the Atlantic makes for dynamic, lively scenes.

Market & Smokehouses

• Fish Market: Walk through the chaotic but fascinating market, where freshly caught fish is traded.

• Smoking & Drying: See women processing fish in smoking sheds and laying them out to dry—an age-old preservation method that fills the air with strong, smoky aromas.

• Street Food: Try grilled fish, oysters, or local dishes prepared on the spot.

Culture & Local Life

• Community Interaction: Tanji is a working village, so you’ll meet fishers, traders, and families going about their routines. A guide can help you engage respectfully.

• Crafts & Souvenirs: Some stalls sell handmade goods, woven baskets, and traditional crafts.

• Music & Drumming: At times, local musicians and drummers gather on the beach, especially during festivals.

Nature & Surroundings

• Birdwatching: Nearby Tanji Bird Reserve and Tanji Lagoon are prime spots for birdlife, including pelicans, herons, and migratory species.

• Beach Walks: Long stretches of golden sand let you step away from the busy landing site for a quieter seaside stroll.

✨ In short: In Tanji Fishing Village you’ll experience the drama of the daily fishing landings, the smoky fish markets, local food, crafts, and cultural life, all with the bonus of nearby birdwatching and beaches.

Baboon Islands, part of the River Gambia National Park in the Central River Region, are one of The Gambia’s most special upriver attractions. Despite their name, they’re most famous not for baboons but for their role in chimpanzee rehabilitation. Here’s what you can do and see there:

Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project (CRP)

• Chimpanzee Viewing: The islands are home to around 100+ chimpanzees reintroduced to a semi-wild environment. Visitors aren’t allowed on the islands themselves to protect the animals, but boat tours along the riverbanks give you the chance to spot chimps in the trees or along the shoreline.

• Conservation Learning: Guides explain the work of the CRP, which has been running since the 1970s to reintroduce captive or orphaned chimps into a safe, natural habitat.

Wildlife & Birdwatching

• Other Mammals: Hippos, crocodiles, and sometimes manatees can be seen in the waters near the islands.

• Birdlife: The surrounding mangroves and forests are excellent for spotting herons, fish eagles, hornbills, and other West African birds.

River Experience

• Boat Excursions: A highlight is the boat trip itself—peaceful rides along the Gambia River with stunning scenery.

• Scenic Landscapes: The five islands are lush and forested, contrasting beautifully with the wide river and sandy banks.

Nearby Activities

• Janjanbureh (Georgetown): A historic town often combined with Baboon Island trips.

• Eco-Lodges: Rustic river lodges and camps (like in Kuntaur or near Janjanbureh) make it possible to stay overnight and enjoy evening or early morning river safaris.

✨ In essence: At Baboon Island, you’ll experience a rare conservation success story with chimpanzees in semi-wild freedom, plus river safaris with hippos, crocodiles, and rich birdlife—all within a serene, upriver setting.