Exploring The Gambia:

Gambia’s culture is profound. It engrosses any individual into the wonderful charm of nature this little West African nation sits in. Known as the Smiling Coast of Africa, The Gambia is a home to friendly people and diverse cultures. The capital Banjul is located on an island at the mouth of River Gambia. The Banjul further happens to be the heart of this nation’s history and economic activities. The rosy picture is, how tourists simply go around historical sites, beautiful colorful markets, and the waters whose heights are much of the top.

Coastal and Marine in Nature the Gambia also harbors, includes wildlife rich areas, such as Banjul National Park; Niokolo-Koba National Park; these national parks have mangroves and are home to several birds, monkeys and other reptiles. A country with people who are culture loving desires to no end share the bounty that is available in diversity of culture in music, dance, and celebrations like Roots Festival with activities to do with the slave trade and the African way of life.

The traditional food of The Gambia is to a large extent related to jollof rice ‘benachin’ and domoda – a peanut stew rather a lot this country is agriculturally based. In general, Gambia is a great place to visit regarding its culture and nature as well as history.

The Biodiversity of The Gambia:

The unique geographical location and exceptional ecosystems of The Gambia have contributed to its rich fauna and flora. The Gambia River traversing the country is an important resource for many fish and bird species and various animals. Further to this ,the river and the wetlands around it are very important for the seasonal birds which spices up bird watching in The Gambia with over 500 birds including the beautiful African fish eagle and the fascinating kingfisher.

Among such sites are Kunta Kinteh Island, Banjul National Park, and Abuko Nature Reserve which are range of protected areas. They all have range of habitats from mangroves to savannas and woodlands hence offer some form of protection. Such zones within these environments harbor these monkeys such as green monkeys and baboons and reptiles such as the Nile monitors and tortoises. Furthermore, mangrove habitat is significant for the coastal area as it provides natural protection and also serves as breeding area for fish and shrimps.The state of Biodiversity in The Gambia warrants concern because it is at risk of being impaired as a result of broad biodiversity conservation issues such as loss of habitats and climate change. Local communities, in this case, instead participate in less destructive practices and advocate for eco- tourism, which is oriented to appreciating and protecting such resources. Its scope of activity is for the benefit of the people of The Gambia, but its also plays a key role in enhancing the culture and economy of the country by availing resources and opportunities to both local people and visitors to the country.

Gambian Cuisine:

The cuisine of The Gambia is a colorful tapestry consisting of varied cultural practices and agricultural production, where the emphasis is on fresh products and strong seasonings. Almost all Gambian meals contain a majority component of rice often served with different varieties of sardine stew made out of groundnuts, fish, or meat. Among the favorites is domoda, a traditional Gambian dish consisting of a peanut stew usually with chicken, or meat, quite spiced up, and served alongside rice. Another popular food is benachin, also called jollof rice, which is composed of rice spiced in tomato sauce and cooked with meat or fish, making a sumptuous one-dish meal.

There is a great importance of fish in the Gambian dishes due to the nature of the country being located along the coast. Fried and grilled fish garnished hot pepper sauce is a standard meal served in the coastal and fisher men towns regions of the country. Furthermore, there are also fried snacks known as bennachin where fried dough is stuffed with either sweet or savory fillings that are adored by the community.Gambians also have a great soft spot for street food with vendors selling some of their favorites dishes like fried bean cakes known as akara and fried dough snacks called chin chin for eat in or take away. Usually meals are shared with other people because of the communality of the meal culture among the Gambians which is why most people cannot eat alone. Food in gastronomy goes beyond taste and texture of different thanks to the richness in history and the way great cuisines bring people together.