If we’re here, it’s not to chat with the charming holidaymakers at the hotel, though this happens for sure, but to discover a new country and another culture so hop!, a camera, some suncream, a bottle of water, a road map in the bag and sunglasses on the end of our noses and off we go in our Kia.
To start, we’re going to take it easy and go south, down the coast and back up through the inland. This shouldn’t be too much of a problem as there are only three main roads indicated on the map. Some of the larger roads have tarmac, a lack of which leaves place to sand (which is the case for most roads). Apparently there are occasional sandstorms – It must be quite an experience!
Past Bakau, we arrive at Fajara which has a golf which we should visit, then we went through Senegambia. Contrary to what the name suggests, it’s not the union of The Gambia and Senegal but just a town. After a few deviations via alleys – all in the name of exploration – and a walk round the beach, we stopped in Tanji, a fisher’s village between the road and the ocean. The women are traditionally and colourfully clothed. Various stalls line the road and animations can be found everywhere (above pictures).
The boats had of course returned from fishing and we went along the place where they dry their herrings, catfish and other rays. The gutted fish are spread out on grates placed on a sort of barbecue and smoked and dried in this way for a few days. The smoke comes from wood fires underneath and the catfish were covered as well by paper. Once ready, the fish is conditioned in crates which will then be sent to other African countries.
Echange de bons procédé dans ce pays {Aucune idée de ce que tu veux dire ?}. An agreeable fisherman explained us everything that he did and we Thanked him as was expected… yep, welcome to Africa!
On the roads, there are constant traffic controls though most let you pass and all you need to do is slow down. Others stop you, in Gunjur for example, and ask for your vehicle’s papers and driver’s licence. Oops, the licence, damn, the guy at the hotel said that we wouldn’t need it and, confident, we didn’t take them. A phone call and an explanation between locals later, we were on our way again. It’s not too much of a problem as we’re driving back to the North and returning to Banjul. Dare I say that despite the three roads, we managed to mess up and found ourselves going towards West Gambia, the river, the inland, and not the North and Banjul.
In Sifoe, we finally found our way again but were stopped once more. This time, the policeman was none too pleased at our lack of licence as well as a badge on our licence plate. Double oops. It took us slightly longer and another few phone calls to explain our blunder and once more a “Thank you”. The licence is “noa culpa” but the car itself made us grumble a bit as it wasn’t our fault… So much emotion, which as you know, I love… not!
I suppose it’s something to tell the grandkids☺
85-95 km was our first experience of Gambian roads and villages. Considering there is a grand total of approximately 3000km of roads, not counting tracks and trails, we’ve made a good start.
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