Gambia Cultural Extravaganza

Kanilai International Cultural Festival
Attracts thousands of people from Gambia and the Diaspora who all converge on the village of Kanilai in the Foni Kansala District of Western Region, which is the country home and birth place of President Jammeh.


This Cultural Festival is normally held in June Bi–annually has now become a household name where you can join in and enjoy the cultural shows and dancing for this 16 day festival.

Roots Home coming Festival
Is a historical, cultural and educational event which invites all people of African descent and all persons committed to the well being of Africans and the development of Africa, to come home to The Gambia and participate in the festival, normally held in June bi–annually to the opposite year of the Kanilai Festival!

If you are unable to attend either of the festivals but would like to experience some of the wonderful culture Gambia has to offer, two of the most spectacular places to be entertained are Makasuitu and Kim Kombo , each with their own unique display of cultural entertainment.

Makasutu
Offers their “NIGHT EXTRAVAGANZA “ Watch the torch light precession float down the creeks where they will come ashore and entertain you with African dancing, fire eating and cultural entertainment enjoy a buffet dinner of African/European cuisine.

Kim Kombo: Offers a special “AFRICAN NIGHT“ twice weekly with original dance troops, included is a buffet dinner of African/European food AND as much of the local made liqueurs as you can drink.!

Gambia History

The first British traders in the Gambia came in 1587. They began to explore the river in 1618. and eventually got control of St. Andrew's Island 1661. It was renamed James Island after the Duke of York, later King James II, a name it has retained to this day. Trading companies were set up and they tried to control the trade of the river. By the mid-seventeenth century, the slave trade had over-shadowed all other trade.

The British and French competed for the control of the trade of the area. In 1765, the forts and settlements were vested in the British crown and for eighteen years what is now The Gambia, formed part of the British Colony of Senegambia, with headquarters in St. Louis at the mouth of the river Senegal. However in 1783, the greater part of the Senegambia region was handed to France. The Gambia section ceased to be a British colony and was again placed under the charge of the African Company.

With the British abolition of the Slave Trade in their settlements in 1807, they tried to look for a suitable location in The Gambia from where they would be able to monitor the river and stop ships from entering and leaving with slaves.

Alexander Grant, sent out from Goree for this purpose, found the fort at James Island to be too far inland and in ruins. He therefore entered into a treaty with the Chief of Kombo in April, 1816 for the cessation of the detached sand bank known as St. Mary's Island. Originally called Banjulo by the Portuguese, Grant named the new settlement, Bathurst after the Colonial Secretary of the time Lord Bathurst.

Britain declared the Gambia River a British Protectorate in 1820. In 1886, Gambia became a crown colony, and the following year France and Britain drew the boundaries between Senegal (by then a French colony) and Gambia.

With the slave trade at an end, the British were forced to come up with a new source of wealth to support the fledgling protectorate, which led to the planting of groundnuts. The groundnuts or peanuts are originally South American, where they were grown by Indian communities. (It was introduced to West-Africa (first the Senegambia area) by the Portuguese in the 16th century.

The harvested nuts are crushed to make oil, which is exported to Europe for use in food manufacture. In the 1950s, Gambia's groundnut production was beefed up as a way to increase export earnings and make the country that much more self supportive, today groundnuts remain the chief crop of both Gambia and neighbouring Senegal.

On the 18th of February 1965, The Gambia gained political independence from Britain and although Britain's Queen Elizabeth II remained as titular head of state. It was strongly felt that The Gambia would not be able to stand on her own and there were talks of forming a federation with Senegal, but this did not materialise at the time.

Around the same time, two events occurred that enabled the tiny nation to survive and even prosper. For a decade after independence, the world price for groundnuts increased significantly, raising the country's GNP almost threefold. The second event had an even more resounding effect - Gambia became a significant tourist destination. On April 24, 1970, The Gambia became a Republic following a majority approved referendum led by President Dawda Kairaba Jawara, who was re-elected five times.

The relative stability of the Jawara era was broken first in a violent coup attempt in 1981 which was led by Kukoi Samba Sanyang, who, on two occasions, had unsuccessfully sought election to parliament.

After a week of violence, which left several hundred dead, Jawara, who was in London when the attack began, appealed to Senegal for help. Senegalese troops defeated the rebel force. In the aftermath of the attempted coup, Senegal and The Gambia signed the 1982 Treaty of Confederation. The result, the Senegambia Confederation, aimed eventually to combine the armed forces of the two nations and unify economies and currencies. The Gambia withdrew from the confederation in 1989.
A protest by soldiers over late salaries in July 1994 turned into a coup d'état, led by a young lieutenant, Yahya Jammeh, a new military government was formed and in 1996 Elections were held and Lieutenant Jammeh was elected by popular vote by the people and a new constitution was introduced, ushering in the Second Republic.

President Jammeh has since won two consecutive elections in 2001 and 2006 and remains in power to this day. He has brought stability to the country and tourism is back in a big way. Also the Gambian infrastructure has vastly improved, as is evidenced by the modern Banjul International Airport, new Hospitals, roads and street lighting that are all being put in place.

Contact details and Reservations:Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.
Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!
info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

Gambia Red Dolphins Life Guards Palma Rima

As part of our commitment in supporting responsible tourism, the TTAG with the assistance of Gambian Experience and some donations from local saw mills.

The TTAG was able to recently build and hand over to the Gambian Tourist Authority, five life guard towers on the beaches in tourist area, ensuring the safety of Tourist and citizens alike.

For your Safety always check sea conditions, look for the nearest flag which will indicate the colours :

WHITE—SAFE SWIMMING
BLUE—SWIM WITH CAUSION
RED—DANGER , NO SWIMMING
WHITE WITH BLACK CROSS — NO LIFE GUARD ON DUTY

Contact details and Reservations:

Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.


Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!


info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

Tribal History

The Gambia is made up of Eight different Tribes, which originate from the surrounding Countries: The River Gambia being the main epicentre means most of the different tribes originate either north, east or south of the river.


Mandinka
In the 14th century, the (Manding) Mali Empire of Mali - established by Mandinka, Sundiata Keita, leader of the Malinké people - encompassed the areas from the edge of the Sahara to the forests of the south in what is now Liberia and Sierra Leone. From East to West, it covered all the regions between Takedda beyond the Niger Buckle covering Senegambia on the Atlantic Ocean.

This vast empire controlled nearly all the trans-Saharan trade, and contact with the rulers of the Arab states to the north led the Mali rulers to embrace Islam with great enthusiasm. Though the rise of the Mali empire was swift its decline was slow. By the beginning of the 15th century, the empire had lost its hegemony over the affairs of the Western Sudan and had been reduced into the small area of Kangaba, where it had first originated.

By the middle of the 15th century a group of Mandingos drifted into the area of the Gambia River basin and with them came Islam. The Mandinksa make up the majority of the population being the largest tribe to settle in the Gambia, the majority of which live in the provinces, upper and central river division.

Wollof
Are an ethnic group found in North Senegal, Mauritania and The Gambia, making up about 15% of the population, yet Wolof language and culture have a disproportionate influence because of their prevalence in the capital Banjul, where 50% of the population are Wolof.


Jola
Are the next largest community living in the Gambia, their people are believed to have pre-dated Mande and Fula peoples to the riverine coast of Senegambia, and may have migrated into Casamance before the 13th century.

Though the origin of the Jolas is still unknown, it is now confirmed by both oral and written history that they are the people who have been longest resident in the Gambia and among the indigenous people of the Senegambian region. Jola in Mandinka means to “pay your dues” Traditionally the women tend the fields and grow crops while men tap Palm Wine and Palm Oil

Sarahuli

Are Mandé people who descend from the Belfour and are closely related to the Imraguen of Mauritania. They were the founders of the ancient empire of Ghana c. 750-1240 CE) The settlers in Gambia are a minority group who live mainly in the up river division.

Traditionally their people are traders, they are renowned as being successful business people, many are property owners and diamond dealers.

Fula

Are traditionally a nomadic, pastoralist, trading people, herding cattle, goats and sheep across the vast dry hinterlands of their domain, keeping somewhat separate from the local agricultural populations. Their tribe can be found as far north as Mauritania, all over West and central Africa and as far east as Sudan.

The Fula people form a minority in every country they live, but in Guinea they represent a plurality of the population (40%). In the Gambia they are often found as local trades, commonly the corner shop will be known as the “Fula shop”.

Aku

Originated from Freetown, Sierra Leone, some still live in the area of George town where they had been resettled after the days of slavery as there was no way of knowing where they had originally been taken from. The Aku language which is still spoken in West Africa developed from the early West African Pidgin English.

Some scholars also argue that African slaves took this language to the New World where it helped give rise to the English-based creoles that developed there, including the Gullah language in coastal South Carolina and Georgia, Bahamian Dialect, Jamaican Creole, Belizean Kriol, Guyanese Creole, Sranan Tongo.

Manjago

Are an ethnic group in Guinea-Bissau. Which have migrated to south Gambia They are known as Manjaku by the Manjacks themselves, Ndiago by the Wolofs, Manjaco by the Portuguese, and Manjaque by the French. Each of these terms means "I tell you" Their trade by tradition is typically Palm Wine and Palm Oil tappers.

Serere

Are the third largest ethnic group in Senegal, also present in Mauritania and The North bank of Gambia they are predominantly Fishermen by trade and their principal sport played is wrestling.

Contact details and Reservations:

Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.


Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!


info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

Gambian Music and Culture

Music plays an important part of Gambian culture; “The drum” made of carved wood and goat skin seems a simple instrument, but drumming in is not limited to musical entertainment like some of the music from the Americas or Europe, it has a serious application in many societies across the continent. A native speaker of a language can often perceive a text or texts in the music.

This effect also forms the basis of drum languages (talking drums)in days gone by drumming was used as a way of communicating. News would travel from village to villages by drumming.

Many of the Western African tribes are well known for their use of drumming in daily activities or special events. The drums are the main tool used to inform members of their respective tribes when something major occurs within the tribe. Drums can inform members of death, funerals, meetings, or upcoming celebration. In the past it was used as a warning of immanent attack.

The drum is the sign of life; its beat is the heartbeat of the community. Such is the power of the drum to evoke emotions, to touch the souls of those who hear its rhythms. The beating of the drum is an opportunity to give one another a sense of belonging and of solidarity. It is a time to connect with each other, to be part of that collective rhythm of the life in which young and old, rich and poor, men and women are all invited to contribute to the society.

Wrestling

The beat of the drum is used to evoke the emotion of the contester and create an excitement in the arena Modern traditional wrestling has evolved as a modified version of the real combat techniques.

Traditionally, all the boys in a village were taught how to wrestle. The ones that showed skill and promise were held in high regard as a man regardless of class, it is one of the oldest traditional sports in Gambia and wrestling festivals are a common occurrence. Leg locks are permitted but there are no patterned arm or head locks, or complicated points system. The object of the game is simply to throw one's opponent to the ground.

The first wrestler down in the bout loses the contest. The most common style of grappling is shown among the Mandinka, Fulas and Jolas. It involves each opponent grabbing each other's trunks at the start of the bout. After some strategic manoeuvrings each one would attempt to throw the other to the ground.Serers on the other hand prefer to go straight for the legs and render their opponent off balance.

Traditional music

Is mostly functional in nature, there are for example, many different kinds of work songs, some of the drumming that goes on in the middle of the day even helps women and men of the tribe get daily chores done quicker as the drums allow them to follow a rhythm while they work, Ceremonial or religious music accompanies childbirth, marriage, hunting, and even political activities.

Cremonial music

Will often be accompanied by the Balafone and the Kora which has a harp like sound and is made from the Calabash. The player uses only the thumb and index finger of both hands to pluck the strings in polyrhythmic patterns. Depending on the tribe which combination of instruments are used.

A male griots, or praise singers are traditionally heard at weddings and infant naming ceremonies, born into the profession most often act as a solo or duo instrumentalist. They attend the ceremonies to bring good luck by accompany praise songs and historical recitations. In some areas it may form part of a larger group including a Kora, a calabash, flute and/or a Tamo Drums.

The griots or “Jali” society was as a historian, advisor, arbitrator, praise singer and storyteller. Essentially, these musicians were walking history books, preserving their ancient stories and traditions through song. Their inherited tradition was passed down through generations. They were said to have deep connections to spiritual, social, or political powers as music is associated as such.

Speech is also said to have power as it can recreate history. The talking drums(Tamo) are some of the oldest instruments used by west African griots and their history can be traced back to ancient Ghana Empire. Many have developed a highly sophisticated genre of griot music centering on the talking drum.

Contact details and Reservations:

Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.

Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!


info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

Gambia Beaches

Gambia boasts some of the most superb beaches on the west coast of Africa. Step out from any of the Hotels which are dotted along it’s coastline on to a vast expanse of golden sandy beach.

No need to suffer from over crowded beaches or look at tall buildings towering over you. All the Hotels in Gambia are built low level and blend into the background creating a peaceful ambiance.

Each Hotel has its own wonderful expanse of beach so you will never feel cramped or crowded.

You can walk for miles as soon as you step outside of your hotel, but if you really want to get away from it all... Take a drive! explore and discover some of the most beautiful sandy beaches which stretch the full length of the Gambian coast line.

You don’t need to go far to find an idyllic spot away from the hassle and bustle of life. As you drive further from the Kombo areas where most of the Hotels are situated you will very soon come to small fishing villages such as Brufut and Tangi where life revolves around the daily catch.

The view from the red rock cliffs of Tanji are surreal. The unspoiled beaches at Sanyang and Gunjur stretch for miles dotted with the odd beach bar selling the catch of the day and a few drinks.

The Gambia offers a unique serenity not found in many destinations this close to Europe.

Some recommended beaches;

Palma Rima Beach

The beach with the most action, very busy on Sundays

Brufut

Unspoilt sandy beaches, very naturaland beautiful with small beach bars scattered along the coast.

Sanyang and Gunjur

Wide white sand beaches, Great beach bars, true African beach experience.Cape Point - well kept beaches around the hotel area’s, some of the widest in The Gambia.

Kotu Beach

Ideal tourist beach, good for families as it is flat and sandy.Kololi Beach- Sandy Beaches with Great beach facilities, bars and restaurants.

Contact details and Reservations:

Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.


Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!


info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

Eco Tourism

If you are into eco-tourism, bird watching, or looking to go on safari, you can find it all here in The Gambia.

Bijilo Forest Park

Is one of the several forest parks in the Gambia, but is primarily a nature reserve. It covers 51 hectares and is easily accessible with its location in Kololi along the coast near the Senegambia tourist area.

This park is popular for its birds and monkeys. It is well worth a visit if you are looking for a morning walk.Lamin Lodge Situated on the edge of the creeks, this huge tree house style lodge offers a wonderful view over the mangrove swamps and is an ideal spot for bird watching. Small boats can also be hired from here.

Makasutu Culture Forest (“Holy Forest”)

Makasutu Cultural Forest, the name Makasutu is a Mandinka word, which translates into English, as “Holy Forest”. There is a history to this dwelling. Legend has it that tribal wars took place in this forest centuries ago.

A particular King was also killed here, and his head, crown and throne were all buried in the forest.The local community avoided the area, for another reason: the legend also states that the devil lived in this forest!

Nevertheless, the owners of this beautiful resort forged ahead and began a venture that would, after almost fifteen years, earn them a reputation as having The Best New Eco Lodge in The World, according to Sunday Times in 2002.Another award was bestowed on the serene lodge two years later with the capping of the prestigious "Guild of British Travel Writers Award." This comes as no surprise.

Surrounded by six villages, Makasutu Cultural Forest is an all-in-one excursion and is all that the international media, and the world travel body have described it. A safari drive, a guided forest walk, a boat ride, bird watching, and cultural entertainment galore are all at ‘Makasutu’.There is a craft area where local artists show their talent and skill in wood carving, design ware and other traditional African artifacts.

Winner of the Eco Tourism Award 2005Abuko Nature Reserve An all time favourite for wildlife and birdwatching. Gambia's oldest protected area. It covers 105 hectares in western Gambia near the Atlantic Coast. The reserve protects a large tract of gallery forest, and it is paricularly noted for its birds and monkey populations. See some of the most colourful birds in the world - over 360 species live in The Gambia.

Baobolong Wetland Reserve

Located on the northern bank of the Gambia River in central Gambia, opposite Kiang West. This wetland covers 22,000 hectares and was designated as Gambia's first Ramsar site (the convention on wetlands of international importance).Kiang West National Park Located on the southern bank of the Gambia River in central Gambia.

Its 11,000 hectares are dominated by dry woodland vegetation, with areas of mangrove and mud flats. River Gambia National Park More commonly known as Baboon Islands. It is a 580 hectare park covering five mid-river islands near Georgetown in eastern Gambia. It was established mainly as a rehabilitation sanctuary for chimpanzees. Visitors are not permitted on the island.

Niumi National Park

In the northwest of Gambia, contiguous with the Parc National du Delta du Saloum in neighbouring Senegal, and incorporates the coastal island of Ginak. It covers 5,000 hectares and features dry woodland, sand dunes, mangroves, salt marches and lagoons.

Tanji River Bird Reserve

Is located on the coast, in western Gambia. Its 612 hectares include dunes, lagoons, mangroves, dry woodland and is popular for the variety of birds which can be seen in the reserve.

Tumani Tenda Eco-Tourism Camp

Tumani Tenda is a Jolla Village with approximately 300 inhabitants living in seven extended families. It is situated 25 km East of Brikama and 3 km from Kafatu, an tributary/Bolong of the Gambia River.

This small hamlet derives its name from a peanut picker, called Tumani, who lived in the area; Tenda means riverbank. The founder of the village, the late Alhaji Osman, a Koran scholar, established the community 30 years ago after immigrating from Casamance.

A community evolved which is described as a religious community embracing certain values, notably a sustainable attitude to the natural environment, a socially responsible style of living, respect for the elderly, independence, self-sustainability and a sense of community.

Tumani Tenda owns 140 hectares of land, of which 89 are sustainably cultivated, with a species rich forest that is continually upgraded with seedlings and serves as a pharmacy and natural water reservoir. Plants and crops grow in abundance and include maize, millet, groundnuts, vegetables, herbs and spices, bananas, grapefruits, oranges, mangoes, lemons and many others.

Contact details and Reservations:

Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.


Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!


info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

Gambia Arts and Crafts

Wooden masks

Which might either be human or animal or of mythical creatures, are one of the most commonly found forms of art in western Africa. In their original contexts, ceremonial masks are used for celebrations, initiations, crop harvesting, and war preparation.

The masks are worn by a chosen or initiated dancer. During the mask ceremony the dancer goes into deep trance, and during this state of mind he "communicates" with his ancestors. The masks can be worn in three different ways: vertically covering the face: as helmets, encasing the entire head, and as crest, resting upon the head, which was commonly covered by material as part of the disguise.

African masks often represent a spirit and it is strongly believed that the spirit of the ancestors possesses the wearer. Most African masks are made with wood.

Mudcloth

Is a traditional Malian fabric dyed with fermented mud, particularly associated with the Bambara. The name is a Bambara word meaning "earthcloth." In the creation of bògòlanfini, simple cotton cloth is woven, shrunk, and then soaked in a preparation of leaves from certain trees.

An artist then outlines an intricate design with a mud dye, often taking several weeks to cover the entire cloth.Yellowish areas of mud are then treated with a caustic soda, bleaching them back to white for a stark black and white design.

Traditionally, a man will do the weaving while a woman will do the dyeing. In recent years, fashion designers such as Chris Seydou have employed bògòlanfini in international clothing lines, while Malian painter Ishmael Diabate has developed it as a fine art form.

Batik

Melted wax is applied to cloth before being dipped in dye. It is common for people to use a mixture of beeswax and paraffin wax. The beeswax will hold to the fabric and the paraffin wax will allow cracking, which is a characteristic of batik. Wherever the wax has seeped through the fabric, the dye will not penetrate. Sometimes several colours are used, with a series of dyeing, drying and waxing steps.

Thin wax lines are made with a canting, a wooden handled tool with a tiny metal cup with a tiny spout, out of which the wax seeps. Other methods of applying the wax onto the fabric include pouring the liquid wax, painting the wax on with a brush, and applying the hot wax to pre-carved wooden or metal wire block and stamping the fabric.

After the last dyeing, the fabric is hung up to dry. Then it is dipped in a solvent to dissolve the wax, or ironed between paper towels or newspapers to absorb the wax and reveal the deep rich colors and the fine crinkle lines that give batik its character.

Juju or Ju-Ju

Is a word of West African origin that refers to the supernatural power ascribed to an object or charm as a means of protection; It can also refer to the use of such objects, used in a form of witchcraft. "

Also the supernatural or magical power attributed to such objects. Juju’s are worn by most people in Gambia, often on the arm or around the waist and some times as a necklace. You will find many for sale in the local markets and they are often offered as gifts of friendship.Silver Smiths can be found in the Markets Hand Made Silver.

Contact details and Reservations:

Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.


Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!


info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

The Gambia

Republic of The Gambia

Local Time
UTC

Capital City
Banjul (pop. 35 000, with suburbs 500 000)

Other Cities
Serrekunda (pop. 200 000), Basse Santa Su, Georgetown (Jangjang-bureh), Juffureh.

Government
Civilian.Independence: 18 February 1965 (from the UK).

Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean surrounded by Senegal.

Area
11 300 sq. km. (4 360 sq. mi.)

Terrain
Flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by low hills.

Climate
Tropical; hot rainy season (June to Nov.); cooler, dry season (Nov. to May).

Population
1.8 million.

Ethnic groups
Mandinka 40%, Fula 18%, Wolof 14%, Jola 10%, Serahule 9%, Serere 8%, Krio/Aku Marabout, Manjago, Bambara.
Non-Gambians 13% of the population.

Religions
Muslim 85%, Christian 4%, animists.

Languages
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula (Pulaar), Jola, other indigenous languages.Literacy: 38%


Contact details and Reservations:  

Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.


Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!


info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

Gambia Healthcare

The Gambia prides itself in its integrated health care system. Its philosophy is that its health care is available, accessible, and affordable.

The system is organized in three tiers.The primary system is focused on disease prevention and includes the services of midwives and traditional birth attendants in each village and a community health nurse who serves a cluster of villages.

These nurses are trained by the government and supplied with motorbike transportation to monitor their group of villages.

Secondary healthcare is provided by health clinics. These include small health clinics staffed by nurses specially trained for this station and larger health centers which are staffed by nurses and a general physician, when available. The larger centers will have an operating theatre and the ability to do simple surgeries.

The final tier of the system is the regional hospitals.

There are five such hospitals in the country: Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital, Farafenni Hospital, Bansang Hospital, the Jammeh for Peace Foundation Hospital, and Sulayman Junkung General Hospital.

Bakau: Ndebaan Medical Centre, Dr Jack Faal, tel 4496426

Kololi: Kololi Clinic, Dr Ceesay, tel 4463434

Senegambia: Lamtorro Clinic, tel 4460934

Contact details and Reservations:

Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.


Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!


info@luigiscomplex.com
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Tel +220 4460280

Gambia Shopping

You have to be prepared for the hassle in the markets and to do a lot of hard bargaining, the price is always negotiable!So it depends on “your luck” as to the price you pay for any item...

Our advise is to start with about 1/3 of the asking price then depending of your bargaining skills and your common sense, it is up to you how much you pay!

Don't take offence at an extortionate price... the starting price is not meant to offend or to “rip you off! bargaining is part of the way of life, and is meant to be part of the fun! it is part of the culture and should be treated light heartedly.

In the same vain the Vendor will not really take offence at your low offer even if he/she make out they are, if you cannot agree and you walk away 9 time out of 10 they will call you back... if they are not interested in you offer.. then your offer was too low.

There are Markets at Senegambia, Kotou, Bakau and the most famous market of all is Albert Street market in Banjul. Most markets sell wood carvings , batiks bracelets and bangles.

There are some really beautiful original good quality handmade items, such as leather hand bags and shoes, hand woven cloths or solid silver jewellery but you will have to search for them.

Special items will be made to order for you in two or three days but they are worth the wait. Watch out for dipped silver bangles! If you can’t cope with the bargaining most Hotels and gift shops will have fixed price items for sale.

You will expect to pay a little more than the market for the convenience and some times you may find a better selection and quality items than the local market.


Contact details and Reservations:  

Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.


Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!


info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

Makasutu Wildlife Trust

Makasutu Wildlife Trust aims to conserve the biodiversity of The Gambia and encourage a greater awareness, appreciation and participation in all aspects of biodiversity, its conservation and sustainable use of the environment, through the active involvement of local communities.

WE HELP PROTECT THE WILDLIFE AND WILD HABITATS OF THE GAMBIA BY

● helping people to enjoy nature with guided walks, talks and the production of materials about The Gambia’s biodiversity

● supporting local conservation action by working with local communities on ecotourism projects

● increasing our knowledge about the biodiversity in The Gambia by fostering an environment for research and undertaking research into many aspects of the natural world.

● building the capacity of local people to protect and conserve their biodiversity and sustainably manage their natural resources by undertaking national education campaigns and providing courses for personnel in government, private institutions, local communities and other NGOs.

● running a wildlife clinic for injured and orphaned wild animals

Serrekunda,The Gambia
drumohq@qanet.gm

Contact details and Reservations:

Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.
Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!


info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

Gambia Tourism & Travel Assoiciation Launches Blog

BANJUL – To help travelers make the most of their stay in The Gambia, the Tourism & Travel Assoiciation (TTAG) has introduced http://gambia-tourism.blogspot.com/, a blog written exclusively by people who are passionate about exploring The Gambia and sharing their experiences.

Gambia Tourism Assoiciation Launches Blog

Contact details and Reservations:
Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.
Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!


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Tel +220 4460280

Makasutu The Sacred Forest

Makasutu a 500-hectare piece of bush in the Kombo central district of the republic of The Gambia is deemed by some to be a devil's home. They say he is there in the form of a ninkinanko or dragon, and protects the hidden crown and clothes of King Jatta from Busumbala who was killed 200 years ago by the Muslim king Kombo Silla on his way east to take over the country. Jatta's men took the crown and clothes and placed them for safekeeping in the area of Makasutu, now known as the Big Forest.

This skyline of ancient baobab and strangler trees looms over the eastern end of Makasutu and is now under the self-imposed guardianship of Echin, a Jola tribesman.The devil is not the only presence there to ward off encroaching. Along with him are jinns and giants -- spectral creatures that straddle animism and Islam.

They help watch over an Edenesque orchard, which is thought to appear to those with a purity of heart trekking across the land. Mandingo tribesmen tell you in ominous undertones that you can eat the fruit of the orchard while you are in the forest but can never leave with it.

When the Islamic wave came down through the Sahara in the 12th century it gave Makasutu its name, and greater protection from the men who wanted to ravage the bush of timber and wildlife. It became a place of prayer, and so a Mecca (Maka) in the forest (sutu).

It was strictly protected by local kings and marabouts who said that no tree could be felled or animal hunted in the sacred grounds. The land until the turn of the century was used only for godly communion.

Men prayed and boys recently circumcised in the name of Allah were brought to bathe in Mandina Bilon -- a tributary of the main Gambia river that lies five kilometres to the north.

The Bilon brings fish to Makasutu as the tide swells; from its sandy banks grow thick lines of mangroves, and from their grey tentacles the Koran women collect oysters.

As the 20th century moved in Makasutu with its untouched supply of wood and wildlife became a new mecca for the people of Kembujeh and neighbouring villages. It was on the verge of being stripped bare, when in 1992 Lawrence Williams, an architect, and James English, an engineer, came across the land and decided it would make a perfect location for a retreat and oasis for overlanders coming down off the Sahara.

They bought the land from the Sanni family who had ancient ownership rights, and after eight years of fencing and planting thousands of trees the land once again has found a protectorate.Makasutu has become a model for ecotourism in Africa.

Local women continue to grow crops on the western portion, and oyster women come and collect as ever, but now the birds are returning in droves to the trees and baboons stop at the safe haven on their migration route.

Momadou Jeeba, a Jola tribesman, has been manager at Makasutu for the past seven years and revealed that long before Williams and English arrived he and others had dreams that two whites would come by river and settle at Makasutu and keep it from harm -- a myth that has now turned into reality.

The Karon tribe oyster catchers were utilising the `fruits' of Makasutu long before the ecotourism project. Mangroves cover the banks of the Mandina Bilon and oysters cling to the branches submerged under the water. The women reach the branches by canoe and chip off the oysters at low tide. The women play an important role in keeping Makasutu fused with the local community.

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Tourism & Travel in The Gambia

Significant government incentives to boost tourism activity

The Gambian government has been very active in promoting tourism and increasing its contribution to economic growth. Hence, the incentives for investment in upmarket tourism are huge.

These include a 3-year tax holiday, duty waivers, exemption from customs duties, sales and turnover taxes. In 2007 the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the Tourism and Travel Association started a promotional campaign aimed to aggressively sell Gambia as ‘the’ destination. It also made promotional videos for presentation at international tourism conferences.

The challenge presented by package tours

The contribution of tourism to the GDP remains rather modest in Gambia. This is very much due to the fact that a high percentage (up to 80%) of inbound tourists are on package tours, paying for their trips in their home countries. Thus, much of the revenue from the industry never arrives in Gambia. The predicament for the government is that without these tour operators international arrivals would be much lower than they are now.

Responsible tourism policy for Gambia

The Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the Gambian Tourism Authority and the Tourism and Travel Association worked together to form what is referred to as ‘the responsible tourism policy for Gambia’. Its main objective is to increase the contribution of tourism to the economy and to raise the living standards of Gambians by maximising the positive impacts of tourism and minimising the negative ones.

Eco-tourism an emerging trend

Eco-tourism is an important and rapidly growing niche within the travel and tourism industry. Gambia is in a great position to capitalise on this, but recognises the need to develop a sustainable eco-tourism programme since the country has only a few national parks and wildlife reserves that lack accessibility and comfort for tourists. Therefore, in addition to regulating its development and ensuring that real benefits are felt in local communities, it is also aiming at minimising future environmental impact.

Bright outlook for tourism in Gambia

The travel and tourism industry in Gambia has a very bright future, particularly considering the active role being played by the government to grow and diversify the market. The present initiatives that have been introduced by the Gambian Tourism Authority and the Tourism and Travel Association will have a significant positive impact on the industry and domestic economy over the mid to long term. It is also expected that as the tourism industry diversifies, Gambia will become a place to visit all year round.

http://www.ttag.gm/

Contact details and Reservations:

Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.
Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!


info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 446028o