Banjul

Introduction

drive through arch

© Dennis78

Banjul is the capital and although it only has about 35,000 inhabitants it is also the largest city in Gambia. The metropolitan area is much bigger on the other hand and has over 10 times as many people. Although small, it has its own African charm, not only because of the friendly and colourful people but also because of its lively markets and it is even a very safe city for African standards. The city also boasts several mosques and cathedrals very close to each other. The city deserves at least a day or so and is easily reached from the popular beach resorts just a short ride away by shared taxi.

Sights and Activities

• Gambian National Museum

Events and Festivals

Banjul Demba Cultural Festival

Held every January in the capital, this festival celebrates Gambia’s culture through displays and performances centered on art, dance and music.

Banjul Fine Arts Festival

This two-week celebration takes place in Banjul annually in January and aims to promote Gambian culture and the arts.

July 22nd Celebrations

Banjuls Arch 22 is the venue of this annual celebration where visitors can witness official cultural performances and parades. This day commemorates Yahya Jammeh’s military coup in 1994 staged to overthrow Dawda Jawara.

Weather

Banjul enjoys a tropical climate with hot and humid conditions year round. The dry season lasts from November to May and is generally a bit less hot than the wetter months of June to October. In July the rain has a peak with heavy downpours on most days. The wetter months are also the hottest and temperatures can reach 40º C at the beginning of the wet season or just before that.

Getting There

By Plane

Banjul International Airport (BJL) is where all international flights to Gambia arrive and depart. International destinations with the national airline Slok Air Gambia are Conakry, Dakar, Accra, Freetown, Monrovia, Abidjan and Bamako. Other flights are mainly within the region as well, but both scheduled and chartered services include those to Amsterdam (Transavia), London, Manchester, Stockholm, Helsinki, Oslo, Brussels, Frankfurt and Madrid.

Afrinat International Airlines flies between Banjul, Accra, Freetown, Bamako, Conakry and Dakar.

By Boat

There are boats from Banjul to Barra on the other side of the mouth of the Gambia River.

Sleep

Upscale

Keep Connected

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

External Links