C5R Team will be active from Gambia, 19 April - 2 May 2025.
Team - YT3PL, YU5R, F5RAV.
Recent DX Spots C5R
They will operate on HF Bands.
QSL via YU5R.
Gambia: the kingdom of chimpanzees and crocodile farms. Vacation with color!
Gambia is a colorful country in West Africa, which offers exotic vacations, excursions to national parks and reserves, as well as interesting local dishes. This small country, which covers an area of 11,300 square meters, will appeal to connoisseurs of picturesque wildlife, safari lovers and hunters for stunning photos, which turn out simply delightful.
Gambia. Author - Josep Blanch.
What to see and where to go
Gambia's attractions include cultural sites and ancient ruins, churches and cathedrals, sites of historical value, monuments and statues and, of course, nature reserves that allow you to get acquainted with the country's flora and fauna. Connoisseurs of architecture are invited to visit the following cultural and religious sites:
- Arch 22;
- Roman Catholic Cathedral;
- Pipeline Mosque;
- King Fahad Mosque;
- Anthony's Catholic Church.
Historical sights are very popular. A visit to the National Museum, Fort James Island, and Fort Bullen is highly recommended. And to get to know the local culture and learn more about the life of the residents, head to Tanji Fishing Village. Here you can get a taste (literally) of everyday life by ordering fish caught in the local waters. The smokehouses are located right inside the houses, so it's fun to watch the flavorful process.
National parks and zoological gardens
The Gambia is famous for its rich nature. There is lush greenery, custom-made panoramic views and simply unique flora. Recommended for a visit are:
- Monkey Park;
- Makasutu;
- Lams Tours;
- Fathala Wildlife Reserve;
- Baboon Island.
Baboon Island is considered the kingdom of the chimpanzees. Magnificent nature and warm climate are advantages enjoyed every day by manatees, hippos, numerous species of monkeys and over 600 (!) species of birds of prey. It is recommended to book a boat trip to see all the splendor of flora and fauna at arm's length.
C5R. Gambia DX Pedition. Banner.
Snake farms
Love to observe animals in their natural environment? Head over to Reptile Farm! The farm is also called “snake farm” due to the large number of cold-blooded animals. Turtles, lizards, crocodiles, various snakes... The fauna is represented by many species of creepers, with which you can take a photo (you need the guide's permission!). The farm is a kind of open-air zoo. Tourists see animals in their habitat (natural environment). Photos turn out to be very spectacular.
On a side note! If you want to grab a bite to eat, Sambous Bar, Dodo's Riverside Bar and Restaurant are in close proximity. They offer delicious local cuisine based on national recipes.
Africa's Stonehenge
Although England is thousands of kilometers away, there is a piece of stone wonder in The Gambia. It is the stone circles of Wassu. The weight of one stone - several tons, height - from one to two and a half meters. The origin of the stone circles is unknown to this day, but some archaeologists believe that this is an ancient burial site. The estimated age of the landmark is about 1200 years.
Reserves and crocodile pools
When talking about natural attractions, the Abuko Nature Reserve is the first to be mentioned. The lush nature with rich vegetation and clear, fish-rich waters are home to numerous animals. There are over 250 species of birds and about 52 species of mammals, including:
- crested duiker antelopes;
- mottled forest antelopes;
- caterpillar monkeys;
- western red colobus;
- vervet monkeys (green marmosets);
- gophers;
- galago;
- porcupines, etc.
Abuko is known for the presence of a large number of cold-blooded species. The reserve is home to forest cobras, green tree mambas, pythons, and Nile crocodiles. Bird lovers will definitely love it here! There are so many diverse and beautiful birds in such a small park! Oriole warblers, yellow-billed cuckoos, African hawks, green pholidornis, nectar birds... The list goes on and on!
It's interesting!!! Abuko is the only natural location where you can see western blue-billed astralds, African downy pogonys and purple banana-turko banana-eaters.
Another interesting forest park to visit is Bigilo. The 4.5 kilometer route involves an interesting walk through gallery forests and manicured lawns. The park has over a hundred species of birds, including ospreys, hornbills, wood doves and Caspian terns. There are also a large number of monkeys and great apes in the park. Don't forget your camera!
Do you want extreme sports? Visit Kachikali crocodile pool! For locals this place is sacred, and for tourists - one of the most attractive attractions. Let's answer the question why crocodiles are sacred for the local people. There is a belief that a prayer said at the shores of local waters helps a woman to get pregnant. Crocodiles in Gambia are a symbol of fertility.
On a side note! The crocodile pool has 80+ adults, plus many smaller crocodiles. The guide will point out the best locations to take photos with these exotic animals.
Gambia. Author - Allan Roffey.
What are some of the tasty ones? Let's go on a gastronomic tour!
Looking for a bite to eat? Welcome to the many local cafes, bars and restaurants! You can try both colorful local cuisine and European dishes. The food here is hearty and at quite reasonable prices. Mainly dishes are made of rice, couscous, peanuts, pork and chicken, fish and freshwater oysters. Hot pepper and herbs add spice and flavor to the dishes.
Soups
Colorful, delicious and with a twist. Among the most popular are: soupacaña, pepper soup, ebbeh and domoda. Domoda is a traditional stew soup that is made with peanuts. Additional ingredients used are meat or fish, carrots, and potatoes. The soup is flavored with lemon juice.
Ebbeh will be an excellent choice for lovers of spicy soups: the main spice is chili pepper, and the main ingredients are seafood (shrimp, crab, fish). An indispensable component is manioc. Similar in spiciness will be pepper soup, which is more like a vegetable stew. The main ingredients: mutton or goat meat, seafood. The stew is a full-fledged dish, but it is often served with rice.
Main courses
We should start with the peanut side dish - maafeh, which is similar in consistency to stew. Caldo is a steamed whole fish that has been pre-marinated in lemon juice. Similar in cooking method is jassa. This dish is a whole chicken marinated in spices (cloves, pepper). Chili sauce or lime juice is often used. Chicken is served with rice.
Lamb lovers should try afra - lamb meat cooked on the grill with abundant use of spices. An interesting taste is olele. It is beans pureed to the state of pudding. Pay attention to the interesting serving: the dish is served in banana leaves.
For those with a sweet tooth
You can't beat desserts! Be sure to try chakkers, a couscous pudding. This sweet and creamy dessert is served with berries, pineapple and nuts. A similar dessert, only without berries, is tiakri. The sweet is made from couscous, condensed milk with sugar and spices.
Below is a list of the best restaurants in The Gambia (as rated by tourists):
- Butcher's Shop (international cuisine).
- Ngala Lodge Restaurant (international cuisine and seafood).
- Sea Shells Bar & Restaurant (European cuisine and seafood).
- Scala Restaurant (European cuisine).
- Calypso Bar and Restaurant (local cuisine and bar).
Tiger prawns, steaks, salads, baked chicken and rice with peanut ragout are recommended. There are also dishes for vegetarians on the menu.
A few words in conclusion
Gambia is a tiny country where the nature is rich, the locals are smiling and the cuisine is delicious. You will definitely not be bored here. The country is known for its natural parks and reserves, zoological gardens. The abundance of species of monkeys and birds amazes! Here live unique species of birds, which are not found anywhere else. Photos will be impressive and memories will be vivid!
Gambia is a colorful country with a spicy flavor. Travel the world in an interesting way!
