The Gambia, smallest nation in mainland Africa

It was my first visit to this part of Africa.  Gambia was the destination and a truck tour around the coastal area and capital Banjul as well as a few sights further up river were on the cards.  Destination fishing village.  Baskets all around over flowing, rack upon rack of fish laid out to be smoked.  The air filled with the scent of burning charcoals and dried fish.  It was a heady mix of flavours and in some parts the air so thick it was difficult to see.

 

 

 

We walked though and onto the beach where boats were still coming in and landing their catch.  Colourful wooden vessels over crowed with both men and catch been off loaded into large baskets on the beach, which then women in long colourful dresses and head dresses carried up to the smokers or sold on immediately to traders and families on the beach.

 

Back on the truck and another stop Tumani Tenda eco tourist camp and village.  This community has set its self up along eco principles and has been an active project for over 30 years.  The chief welcomes you to his village in return for some words in the local dialect and some nuts.  He also seemed to be thoroughly enjoying tricking his guests by rearranging his pre arrange questions into a different order.  A joke that seemed to have some members of the village in hysterics, if not the poor unsuspecting foreigner who was just doing their best.  It was a good opportunity to see life in the extended family communities of this Jolla village. 

Neat rows of farm produce, the bakery, wells to draw water and of course the opportunity to taste some of the local cuisine cooked by the women of the village, are all on offer.  The location is thought provoking, a peaceful lake setting with some forest surrounding.  The trip worth it, although I couldn't help wondering about the rapid rates of deforestation in this sustainable area, and the locals who turned up to dance seemed to lack as much enthusiasm for it as I did for watching this tourist spectacle, the real meaning lost in this tourist charade.

Dinner at the beach suffered ironically from lack of fish anywhere on the menus that lined the seafront.  Still all places offered ridiculously loud music and more of that 'traditional' Gambian dancing.  I kept my head down and tried to avoid the inevitable.  First few days in this destination done.  Many pleasant surprises so far, some ideas confirmed, but more than a few questions still to be answered by this, the smallest nation in Africa.