An Exclusive African Beauty Gambia: Paradise for Birds

when we talk about the natural beauty in Africa, Gambia is one of the exclusive places to visit. Despite being the smallest country in West Africa, it has a lot to offer including beautiful trees, rivers, beaches and a vast variety of bird life. Apart from that warm hearted people and delicious cuisine always welcome the tourists with open arms. There are some interesting places which a tourist should visit if he is visiting Gambia for the first time. Although there are some local languages, the official language of Gambia is English which makes the communication easier for the tourists.

PARADISE FOR MORE THAN 600 BIRD SPECIES:

Gambia is known as paradise for birds. Having more than 600 bird species, makes it an eye-catching attraction for the researchers, wild-life photographers and naturalists. Experiencing a variety of beautiful flying birds in front of your eyes makes it an unforgettable journey which occurs once in a lifetime.

THE GAMBIA RIVER:

The acknowledgement of Gambia remains incomplete without mentioning the beauty of The Gambia River. If Gambia is a heart, then The Gambia River is a heartbeat. The river plays a key role in the lives of people living on either side of the river. It is a renowned tourist site. As a tourist, you can hire a boat to explore the wildlife, countryside and historical slave trade stations and a lot more.

WASSU STONE CIRCLES:

One of the exclusive places to visit in Gambia is none other than Wassu Stone Circles. There is a saying that great kings of the past are buried here. This historical place gives us the glimpses of rich cultural heritage centuries back. These 6 feet stones have been placed there since 750AD to 1000 AD. These stones have been kept in their original condition for centuries as locals have a belief that anyone who tries to damage this circle of stones will face the curse.

These historical stones are considered a major reason for attracting archeologists and tourists because of their exclusive features. Wassu Stone Circle was declared as a world tourist site by UNESCO in 2006.

THE LAND OF MONKEYS:

The way, people find countless monkeys when they are travelling from Islamabad towards Daman-e-Koh in Pakistan. Similarly, Gambia is home to several species of monkeys and they are found everywhere. Sometimes, these cheeky monkeys are found in woodlands, hotel gardens or even on streets.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIVE MOMODOU BARRY FROM GAMBIA:

FAMOUS CUISINE IN GAMBIA:

MAFE (THE PEANUT SOUP):

Mafe (the peanut soup) is a famous dish not only in Gambia but in entire West Africa. Apart from Gambia, this dish is common in Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Senegal. The recipe of mafe varies from region to region. Basic ingredients include tomato, onion, garlic, peanuts, pepper and spices. Other variations include chicken, beef or lamb.  

BENACHIN:

Benachin is considered as a National Dish of Gambia. It consists of rice, vegetables and meat cooked together in a pot. It is a must try dish if you are visiting Gambia for the first time. 

All in all, it can be summed up that there are different flavors and varieties of attraction in Gambia which should be explored at least once.

NOTE: We are thankful to the following for the research work.

https://globemigrant.com/15-must-visit-places-in-the-gambia/

https://www.gambia.co.uk/blog/10-interesting-facts-about-the-gambia

https://globemigrant.com/15-must-visit-places-in-the-gambia/

https://travelwithkat.com/birdwatching-in-the-gambia/

https://www.geraintrowland.co.uk/blog/2017/10/16/monkey-love-bijilo-forest-park-the-gambia

https://rainbowplantlife.com/vegan-west-african-peanut-stew/

Birds