"Tiny, but Worth the Trip" a The Gambia Travel Page by kucha

An hour and a half by plane beyond the Canary islands, this tiny African country is one of the most awkward of colonial creations -- geographically speaking. Only thirty miles wide at the coast, the country stretches inland for three hundred miles along the length of the Gambia river.

The Gambia's rather sleepy capital, Banjul, as well as Serekunda (the country's transport hub and largest city) offer a taste of the real West Africa in comparison to the resorts of Bakau, Fajara, Kotu and Kololi (see also, below)

Tourist town Jufureh also remains of interest, as the place where Alex Haley's ancestors were captured and enslaved, made famous by the 1970s African-American novel, Roots.

The coastal district -- especially Bakau, Fajara, Kotu and Kololi -- has geared up for tourism since the ostensible creation of democracy in the mid-1990's and now attracts tourists from the UK, the Netherlands and Germany.

We love watching birds in exotic locales and the Gambia is renowned for its bird life. Hire a local guide and get an early start, to enjoy a stunning dawn canoe excursion to bird sanctuaries.

Alternatively, you can hire a car and visit another nature preserve known as Karinti. This reserve is officially protected by the Gambian Government and has abundent bird life, including 34 birds of prey! It's only a 30 minutes drive from the tourist area and encompasses a wide range of different habitats