Tanji

4 december 2022

I moved from the guest house to the home of a friend in a compound close to Tanji at Batakunku near Toujering.

This is a beautiful setting within a garden providing tranquillity in a small village. The family provided the traditional Gambia welcome - so friendly and warm accompanied with large quantities of authentic home cooked food. I immediately felt at home.

I mastered the local transport network of the coastal region and headed first for the Senegambia Beach Hotel.

Although frequented by guests from the northern hemisphere seeking the winter warmth and sun, it is also home to a committee of vultures. These huge birds hang out on the lawns of the hotel, basking in the sunshine. I found this place quite bazaar - I could have been on the Costa del Sol or anywhere really with a beach and bar. It was good to get back into a local bus and dive back into Gambian street life.

I visited the Kachikally Crocodile Pool which is located in the back streets of Bakau. This area of the coast is quieter and the streets around the pool, packed tightly with small dwellings. The park area is small and the nature walk is circular leading to the pool where the crocodiles are basking in the sun on its banks. They are very docile and dormant; quite hard to tell that they are actually alive and breathing. I found the museum here quite informative particularly to check some of the information about the reserves of Gambia and the range of animals and birds that can be found in the area.

On returning to Tanji village, I visited the beach area to see the evening fishing catch being received and prepared by the people of the community. A hive of industry and fascinating to watch and explore.