Responsible Tourism

We believe that it is our responsibility to protect and maintain the natural beauty, culture and wildlife of The Gambia. We always encourage our volunteers to:

Support the local economy wherever possible

Respect the culture and traditions of the people

Ask permission before taking photographs

Respect the habitat and natural behaviour of local wildlife

WYCE therefore offers volunteers the opportunity to visit both local initiatives and also other working establishments. These include:

Bijilo Forest Park

One of the several forest parks in the Gambia, but is primarily a nature reserve. It covers 51 hectares and is easily accessible with its location in Kololi along the coast near the Senegambia tourist area. This park is popular for its birds and monkeys. It is well worth a visit if you are looking for a morning walk.

Gambian Reptile Farm

This is not really a farm, more a rescue centre for injured and threatened species and an excellent place to see and learn about the reptiles and snakes that are found in Gambia but seldom seen. Furthermore, its owner Luke, works closely with Bala University in Wales, on research programmes to discover serums and antidotes for snake bites.

The location is 4km past Gunjur on the road towards Kartung about 35 kilometers from the holiday resorts that surround Serekunda.
This is an hour visit not a full day, the cost is 100D for tourists, free for Gambians. So it is part of a visit to South Gambia rather than the main purpose of the visit, but it is well worth it, especially if the French owner is there conducting the tour. He is not only very knowledgeable, but also very entertaining.

Most of the exhibits are live but as well protected from you as you are from them, most are not at all dangerous and the centre serves a most useful purpose of making Gambians aware of which snakes are dangerous and which are totally harmless. This is necessary as Gambians will kill any snake they see, dangerous or not.

River Gambia National Park

More commonly known as Baboon Islands. It is a 580 hectares park covering five mid-river islands near Georgetown in eastern Gambia. It was established mainly as a rehabilitation sanctuary for chimpanzees. Visitors are not permitted on the island.

The Roots International Festival

This festival, which takes place in early June every 2 years (2008, 2010..), centres on the spiritual, cultural, and historical orientation of a celebration of freedom. It spans seven days, offering excursions to the Katchically sacred pool, a trade fair of African artefacts and cloth, musical bonanza of artists from the continent, cultural night and theatre, visits to Albreda slavery museum, an initiation to the rites of passage and other African traditional religions, and obviously a day out to the home of the hero that most will never forget, Kunta Kinteh; a hero taken away as a boy from rural Gambia and enslaved in the USA.

He never forgot his roots, and fought for his freedom, and those that followed after him. Although he was a slave, he was born a free man, and in spirit died a free person. His legend brought to life by his great, great, great grandson Alex Hailey, tells of the trials and tribulations of the Kinteh clan, a family who still dwell in Juffureh where Kunta was abducted many centuries ago, at the dawn of the greatest tragedy of Africa, the slave trade. This festival is one of the greatest homecoming events for the Diaspora and non-Africans the world over. It is welcoming, it is inspiring, it is exhilarating, it is emotional, but most important of all it is about a welcome home extended to the world. The Gambia, the smallest nation in Africa, opens its arms to everyone and once again the hospitality is poured on those that reciprocate the Smiling Coast's warm embrace.

Tanji River Bird Reserve

Located on the coast, in western Gambia. Its 612 hectares include dunes, lagoons, mangroves, dry woodland and is popular for the variety of birds which can be seen in the reserve.

The Daily Observer Newspaper Offices

Visit the Newspaper's website.

Serekunda Market

It is made up of wide, sprawling suburbs, heavily overcrowded, and is loud and bustling in nature. It's central hub is Serrekunda Market and Sayer Jobe Avenue which is packed with local shops, banged out taxis, merchants, craft sellers, street peddlers from all over West Africa and some Arab countries. It is the place to visit if you want to experience 'culturally vibrant' urban African life.

Banjul city

Banjul is the capital of Gambia, West Africa (former name Bathurst), and is the administrative city of the country and seat of government. The capital is one of the smallest cities in Africa, and is situated on an island at the mouth of the River Gambia called St. Mary's Island. The small port city has a sleepy ambience reminiscent of a large village.

Brikama Market

The Brikama Craft Market and 'factory' produces and sells hundreds of teak wood carvings, batiks, djembe drums and other souvenirs. It is has recently been relocated. Following the road from the airport to Brikama, it stands on the left hand side of the road. Opposite the Abartoire and just before the Teachers' Training College. It is also possible to rest under a large tree and enjoy a delicious local lunch together with a refreshing bag of chilled water! 

Further along the road, Brikama Town Market is the 'business centre' full of stalls and local shops where you could purchase almost anything from the local green tea to the most delicious locally grown fruits and vegetables

Have a look at the Madina Salaam Village tour

See a large map of the Gambia