City tour, Banjul, Arch 22, Museums, Crocodiles and Monkeys

Banjul and Arch 22

Banjul, the small capital of the Gambia, sits on St Mary's Island where the River Gambia meets the Atlantic. It was founded by the British in 1816 as Bathurst and renamed Banjul in 1973, and its compact centre still keeps colonial-era buildings, busy streets around the port and views across the wide estuary. The city's best-known landmark is Arch 22, a monumental gateway about thirty-five metres high completed in 1996 and named after the date of 22 July 1994, which changed the country's leadership.

On this Banjul city tour, you can climb the stairs inside Arch 22 to its upper gallery, which houses a small museum and offers one of the best panoramas of Banjul, the river mouth and the ocean. Your guide explains the history of the Gambia's leadership and of the capital. There are quite a few steps to the top, so take your time and enjoy the views.

The crocodile park and its museum

The Gambia is known for its sacred crocodile pools, ponds in patches of forest where West African crocodiles have lived for generations alongside local families. These pools have long been places of prayer and blessing, especially for women hoping for children, and the crocodiles are used to people. On this tour you visit a crocodile park where you can see these reptiles up close as they rest on the banks or float in the water.

The park also has a small cultural history museum with traditional musical instruments, tools, photographs and objects that tell the story of Gambian peoples and their customs. Your guide shares the beliefs linked to the crocodiles and explains how the pool fits into local life. Always follow the keepers' instructions and keep a respectful distance. It is a short but memorable stop, and one of the most unusual things to do in the Gambia.

Serrekunda Market

Serrekunda is the largest town in the Gambia, a fast-growing urban area just inland from the coastal resorts, and its market is the biggest in the country. This is where local people buy their everyday produce: piles of fresh vegetables and fruit, dried and smoked fish, rice, spices and groundnuts, alongside colourful fabrics, tailors at their sewing machines, household goods and stalls selling everything from shoes to mobile phones.

Walking through Serrekunda Market with a local guide is an eye-opening introduction to Gambian daily life and to the warm, lively character of the people. Your guide helps you find your way through the busy lanes, explains what the different products are used for and how prices are negotiated. Keep valuables close, carry a little cash in dalasi if you want to buy something, and always ask before taking photos of traders.

Bijilo forest park and its monkeys

The tour ends at Bijilo forest park, a protected strip of coastal forest just south of the resort area, crossed by sandy trails that lead towards the beach. It shelters several monkey species, above all green vervet monkeys, which often sit right by the paths, as well as red colobus monkeys high in the trees and, at times, patas monkeys. Birds, lizards and butterflies add to the experience, making it a favourite stop for families and nature lovers.

You walk around the park with your guide, watching the monkeys play and move through the canopy. Peanuts are sold at the entrance for those who want them, but please follow the rangers' advice and let the animals approach on their own terms. The walk is gentle and shaded, and after it our driver brings you back to your hotel or guesthouse around midday.