Cheap Car Rentals in Banjul (BJL)

Arch 22

Gambia’s capital, Banjul, is home to one of the tallest structures in the country and is focally known for its distinguished arch that commemorates a military coup dated 22 July 1994. This symbolic arch is called Arch 22 and it is also is depicted on the back of the 100-dalasis banknote. It consist of three floors, the second floor features a panoramic view of Banjul extending as far back as mangrove forests and the sea port of Banjul. The third or top floor is home to a small textile museum.

Bijilo Forest Park

Bijilo Forest Park lies 6.8 miles away from Banjul. First gazette in 1951 and then opened to the public in 1991, this protected nature reserve is a closed canopy forest of palm trees. It is home to a remarkable range of flora and fauna consisting of several invertebrates, reptiles, mammals and bird species. Visitors will notice Bijilo Forest Park also has a 2.7 mile-long nature trail that will take them through local ecological hotspots, coastal scrublands, sand dunes and ultimately leading to a popular bird watching site near the beach.

Gambia National Museum

The Gambia National Museum in Banjul is home to a vast range of old documents, displays, photographs and artifacts related to the 70-year old history and culture of the Gambia. It is spread across three floors, including the one at basement. The basement features extensive displays and artifacts related to the musical heritage of the Gambia and it also has vintage musical instruments. The Gambia National Museum’s ground floor showcases country’s political and cultural history while its second floor displays archaeological history of West Africa and Gambia. The latter also focuses on the nation’s colonial and post-Independence (that is, since 1965) political and economic history.

Abuko National Park

Abuko National Park is Gambia’s first designated wildlife reserve. It is located at half an hour’s ride from Banjul in Abuko, and owes its origin as a mildly protected region in 1916. This natural reserve is a closed bracket of an extensive flora and fauna related to savanna. Most of the trees here like oil palm; mahogany and iroko rise up to even 30 feet. Abuko National Park is also home to several types of reptiles (like monitor lizard, Nile crocodile, dwarf crocodile, spitting cobra, black cobra and python) and over 270 different species of birds and butterflies.