Banjul

A British Army captain created Gambia’s capital city in 1816 as a means to stop the European and American slave trade in the area. Barracks were the first residences, but the post grew quickly. Today, the King Fahad Mosque’s twin minarets mark the large city’s skyline. Shopping at the public market is a main attraction. Banjul is also a popular base from which to head out for tropical bird watching trips. Daily life is colorful here. Expect beggars, hagglers and lots of unsolicited hellos from "bumsters," young men who hang around tourists a little too much.