C5T – C5I – Gambia

The C5T and C5I teams will be in The Gambia from November 25 to 29, 2024.
Team – EA3NT, EI5GM, EI9FBB, MM0NDX, MM0OKG.
Nearest DX Point C5T
C5T Log SearchsearchC5I Log SearchsearchNearest DX Point C5I
They will operate on the HF bands, including the 60 and 6m bands.
QSL passed EA5GL, LOTW.
Direct QSL advertising:
Peter Michael Ronda Monsell, Maximilian Thousand 16-24, E-46009, Valencia, Spain.
They will use the C5T call sign from the mainland and the C5I call sign IOTA AF-060 from the Björk Islands.

The Gambia: The kingdom of chimpanzees and crocodile farms. A colorful holiday!

The Gambia is a colorful country in West Africa that offers exotic holidays, excursions to national parks and reserves, and interesting local cuisine. This small country of 11,300 square meters will attract connoisseurs of picturesque wildlife, hunting enthusiasts, and hunters who want to take eye-pleasing photos.

Gambia. Author – Josep Blanch.

What to See and Where to Go

Attractions in The Gambia include cultural sites and ancient ruins, churches and cathedrals, sites of historical value, monuments and statues, and of course nature reserves that allow you to get to know the country’s flora and fauna. Connoisseurs of architecture are welcome to visit the following cultural and religious sites:

• Arch 22;
• Roman Catholic Church;
• Pipeline Mosque;
• King Fahd Mosque;
• Anthony Catholic Church.

Historical attractions are very popular. Visits to the National Museum, James Fort Island and Fort Blum are highly recommended. To get a better understanding of the local culture and get a glimpse into the lives of local residents, head to the fishing village of Tangi. Here you can order a fish caught in local waters and experience daily life. The smokehouse is located inside the house, so it is interesting to watch the smoking process.

National Parks and Zoos

The Gambia is known for its rich natural resources. There are lush greenery, panoramic custom landscapes and unique flora. Recommended places to visit:

• Monkey Park;
• Makasutu;
• Ram Tourism;
• Fatala Wildlife Sanctuary;
• Baboon Island.

Baboon Island is considered the kingdom of chimpanzees. The magnificent natural scenery and warm climate are the advantages that manatees, hippos, many species of monkeys and more than 600 species of birds enjoy every day. It is recommended to book a boat trip to see the magnificent views of various flora and fauna up close.

Gambia. Author – Adrian Turner.

Snake Farm

Do you like to observe animals in their natural environment? Then go to the Reptile Park! Due to the large number of cold-blooded animals, the park is also known as the “Snake Park”. Turtles, lizards, crocodiles, various snakes… There are so many different animals here, and you can take photos with them (you need the guide’s permission!). The park is like an open-air zoo. Visitors can see the animals in their habitat (natural environment). The photos are spectacular.

By the way! If you want to eat something, Sambous Bar, Dodo’s Riverside Bar and Restaurant are nearby. They serve delicious local cuisine based on national recipes.

Stonehenge in Africa

Although England is thousands of miles away, there is a stone wonder in The Gambia. This is the Wasu Stone Circle. A single stone weighs several tons and is between one and two and a half meters tall. The origins of the stone circle remain unknown, but some archaeologists believe it is an ancient burial site. The estimated age of the landmark is about 1,200 years.

Sanctuary and Crocodile Pool

When it comes to natural attractions, the Abuko Nature Reserve is the first to be mentioned. It is rich in natural resources, lush vegetation, clear water, abundant fish, and home to many animals. There are more than 250 bird species and about 52 mammals here, including:

• Muntjac;
• the colorful forest antelope;
• Caterpillar monkey;
• Western red colobus monkey;
• Vervet monkey (green marmoset);
• gopher;
• Galago;
• Porcupine and more

Abuko is known for its large number of cold-blooded animals. The reserve is home to forest cobras, green tree mambas, pythons, and Nile crocodiles. Bird lovers will love this! Such a small park has so many different and beautiful birds! Yellow warblers, yellow-billed cuckoos, African eagles, green finches, nectar birds… the list goes on!

It’s fun! Abuko is the only natural location where you can see the Western Blue-billed Star Butterfly, African Downy Finch and Purple Banana Turquoise.

Another interesting forest park to visit is Bigilo. The 4.5 km route includes an interesting walk through gallery forests and manicured lawns. The park is home to more than 100 bird species, including ospreys, hornbills, turtle doves and Caspian terns. The park also has a large population of monkeys and gorillas. Don’t forget to bring your camera!

Do you want to experience the extreme? Visit the Kachikally Crocodile Pool! For the locals, this place is sacred and for tourists it is one of the most attractive attractions. Let’s answer why crocodiles are sacred to the locals. It is believed that praying on the shore of the local waters can help women get pregnant. Crocodiles in Gambia are a symbol of fertility.

By the way, there are more than 80 adult crocodiles in the crocodile pool, as well as many baby crocodiles. The guide will point out the best spots to take photos with these rare animals.

Gambia. Author – Gertjan van der Kooij.

What delicious foods are there? Let’s go on a food tour together!

Want to eat? Come to one of the many local cafes, bars and restaurants! You can enjoy colorful local cuisine and European dishes. The food here is hearty and reasonably priced. Most dishes are made from rice, couscous, peanuts, pork and chicken, fish and freshwater oysters. Chilies and herbs add spice and flavor to the dishes.

Soup

Colorful, tasty and unique. The most popular ones are: soupacaña, pepper soup, ebbeh and domoda. Domoda is a traditional stew made with peanuts. Other ingredients include meat or fish, carrots and potatoes. The soup is seasoned with lemon juice.

Ebbeh is an excellent choice for those who like spicy soups: the main spice is chili peppers, the main ingredients are seafood (shrimp, crab, fish). Cassava is an indispensable ingredient. Similar in spiciness is chili soup, which is more like a vegetable stew. Main ingredients: lamb or goat meat, seafood. The stew is a complete dish, but it is usually eaten with rice.

Key Courses

We should start with maafeh, a peanut-based side dish with a consistency similar to a stew. Caldo is a steamed whole fish marinated in lemon juice. A similar dish is jassa. This dish is a whole chicken marinated in spices (cloves, pepper). Usually chili sauce or lime juice is used. The chicken is served with rice.

Lamb lovers should try afra – lamb cooked on a grill with lots of spices. Olele is interesting. It is pureed beans and served in a pudding-like form. Note the interesting presentation: the dish is served on a banana leaf.

For those with a sweet tooth

The desserts are impeccable! Be sure to try Chakkers, a couscous pudding. This sweet and creamy dessert is served with berries, pineapple and nuts. A similar dessert is Tiakri, but without the berries. This dessert is made with couscous, condensed milk, sugar and spices.

Here is a list of the best restaurants in Gambia (rated by tourists):

• Butcher’s Shop (international cuisine).
• Ngala Lodge Restaurant (International cuisine and seafood).
• Sea Shells Bar & Restaurant (European cuisine and seafood).
• Scala restaurant (European cuisine).
• Calypso Bar and Restaurant (local cuisine and bar).

Recommended dishes include tiger prawns, steak, salad, roast chicken and peanut risotto. There are also dishes suitable for vegetarians on the menu.

Summarize

The Gambia is a small country with rich natural resources, smiling locals and delicious food. You will never be bored here. The country is famous for its natural parks and reserves, zoos. The variety of monkeys and birds is amazing! Unique birds live here that you can’t find anywhere else. Photos will be impressive and memories will be vivid!

The Gambia is a colorful and spicy country.

C5T C5I. Where is Gambia located. Map.