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Banjul
Banjul King Fahad Mosque
Banjul Location of Banjul in The Gambia
Coordinates: 13°27′11″N 16°34′39″W / 13.45306°N 16.5775°W / 13.45306; -16.5775Coordinates: 13°27′11″N 16°34′39″W / 13.45306°N 16.5775°W / 13.45306; -16.5775
Country	The Gambia
Division	Banjul
Area
- Urban	35.9 sq mi (93 km2)
Population (2003)
- City	34,828
- Density	970/sq mi (374.5/km2)
- Urban	357,238

Banjul (formerly Bathurst), officially the City of Banjul, is the capital of The Gambia, and is in the division of the same name. The population of the city proper is only 34,828, with the Greater Banjul Area, which includes the City of Banjul and the Kanifing Municipal Council, at a population of 357,238 (2003 census).^[1] Banjul is on St Mary's Island (Banjul Island), where the Gambia River enters the Atlantic Ocean. The island is connected to the mainland — by passenger and vehicle ferries to the north and by bridges to the south.

Etymology

Banjul takes it name from the Mandé people who gathered specific fibres on the island which were used in the manufacture of ropes. Banjul is the Mande word for fibre.

History

In 1816, the British founded Banjul as a trading post and base for suppressing the slave trade. It was first named Bathurst after Henry Bathurst, the secretary of the British Colonial Office, but was changed to Banjul in 1973.^[2]

Arch 22 at the entrance to Banjul

On July 22, 1994 Banjul was the scene of a bloodless military coup d'état in which President Dawda Jawara was overthrown and replaced by the country's current President Yahya Jammeh. To commemorate this event, Arch 22 was built as an entrance portal to the capital. The gate is 35 metres tall and the centre of an open square. It houses a textile museum.

Attractions in the city include the Gambian National Museum, the Albert Market, Banjul State House, Banjul Court House, two cathedrals and several major mosques.^[3]

It is the destination of the Plymouth-Banjul Challenge, a charity road rally.

Economy

Banjul is the country's economic and administrative centre and includes the Central Bank of The Gambia. Peanut processing is the country's principal industry, but beeswax, palm wood, palm oil, and skins and hides are also shipped from Banjul's port.^[4]

Climate

Banjul has a very warm climate year round.

Transport

Banjul International Airport

Albert Market

A street in Banjul

Ferries sail from Banjul to Barra. The city is served by the Banjul International Airport. Banjul is on the Trans-West African Coastal Highway connecting it to Dakar and Bissau, and will eventually provide a paved highway link to 11 other nations of ECOWAS.

Districts

Districts of Banjul

Banjul Division (Greater Banjul Area) is divided into two districts:

• Banjul
• Kanifing

Sister cities

• Ostend (Belgium)^[6]
• Grimsby (UK)
• Newark, New Jersey (United States).
• Taipei, (Taiwan) since 1997.

Banjul seen from SPOT satellite

See also

• Divisions of The Gambia
• Districts of The Gambia

References

1. ^ Gambia Divisions
2. ^ History of Banjul
3. ^ Banjul Gambia - Travel Information
4. ^ State Department Information
5. ^ "Average Conditions Banjul, Gambia". BBC Weather. http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT000230. Retrieved August 16, 2009.  
6. ^ Cooperation is established in ICT-infrastructure for the B.C.C. and other projects for capacity building. Ostend-based humanitarian organisation Medios vzw is supporting the Female Surgical Ward of the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital. (more info on http://stedenband.oostende.be)

External links

• Access Gambia - Hotels, News, Travel & Photos

Administrative divisions of The Gambia Divisions Banjul City · Central River · Lower River · North Bank · Upper River · Western LGAs Banjul LGA · Basse · Brikama · Janjanbureh · Kanifing · Kerewan · Kuntaur · Mansa Konko Districts Banjul Banjul District · Kanifing Central River Fulladu West · Janjanbureh · Lower Saloum · Niamina Dankunku · Niamina East · Niamina West · Niani · Nianija · Sami · Upper Saloum Lower River Jarra Central · Jarra East · Jarra West · Kiang Central · Kiang East · Kiang West North Bank Central Baddibu · Jokadu · Lower Baddibu · Lower Niumi · Upper Baddibu · Upper Niumi Upper River Fulladu East · Kantora · Sandu · Wuli Western Foni Bintang-Karenai · Foni Bondali · Foni Brefet · Foni Jarrol · Foni Kansala · Kombo Central · Kombo East · Kombo North/Saint Mary · Kombo South

From Wikitravel

Banjul is the second largest city in and capital of Gambia. The city is on an island, which has constrained its size - population is only 40,000. Consequently much of the population now is based on the mainland between the airport and the city. The main tourist and business centres are around Bakau, Fajara, Kotu and Serrekunda.

Banjul has become very popular as a package holiday destination with British and other European visitors. Travel company 'The Gambia Experience' has been the market leader, but other operators are increasing their offerings too.

Goats on the beach

Get in

Banjul International Airport also known as Yundum International (IATA: BJL, ICAO: GBYD) is the international airport of Banjul. There are many direct flights to Banjul from some parts of Europe and Africa. Direct flights to Conakry, Dakar, Freetown, Amsterdam, Lagos, Brussels, Bissau, London, Accra, Abidjan, etc. For the intrepid tourist, the Plymouth - Banjul Challenge [1] ends here as well.

Get around

Most hotels will have a selection of green taxis, which have fixed prices to the most popular destinations. Bicycles are also available for rental. Car hire is available from Avis and AB, both of which are based at the SeneGambia Hotel. Car hire will cost about 1500 Dalasi/day for a small car.

Arch 22

• Arch 22, (at the end of Independence Drive). gives good views over Banjul city. GMD 50.  edit
• The Gambia National Museum, Independence Drive, [2]. mo-th: 9am-6pm, fr-su: 9am-5pm. Small museum with cultural and historic artifacts GMD 50.  edit

Do

Go to its wonderful beaches.

Eat

Being on the Atlantic ocean, Banjul has some excellent and well priced seafood on offer. The locally produced peanuts are also very good and go well with a pint of Julbrew.

• Radio Sud Beach bar. This used to be a radio station which started life as a pirate radio on a boat off Sweden. After changes in the law there, it was sailed away and ended up in the Gambia. The ship and radio station have both now gone (the former sank nearby and the latter closed in 2002 when its mast collapsed). It is now a beach bar and restaurant. The original owners are still there and are happy to talk about the history. Located on the beach near Banjul city. Driving away from Banjul city it is on the right after the cemetery.
• Michels seafood bar. Close to the independence arch on Independence Avenue.
• Restaurant at the base of the Independence Arch has good seafood.
• Nefertiti, ☎ 4222400. Good buffet, great location on the beach and free WiFi  edit

Splurge

There are many good restaurants in the road leading to the hotels at Kololi beach. This road is also known as the Senegambia Strip.

Sleep

Splurge

Banjul City Centre

• Corinthia Atlantic Hotel. North of Banjul city centre on the beach. This is not in the main tourist area, which is further to the West. One of the better hotels with a pool and private beach. Wireless Internet throughout.

Kololi Beach area

• SeneGambia Hotel. Good beach hotel, which is popular with older travellers. There is no wireless internet, just 2 machines in reception, for which you can buy 1 hour cards at 100 Dalasi. 'The Gambia Experience' is based here.
• The Kairaba Hotel
• Kololi Beach Club. Luxury accommodation. Has time share and soon accommodation for outright purchase.

• British High Commission, 48 Atlantic Road, Fajara, ☎ (220) 4495133, [3].  edit
• United States, [4].  edit

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Wikipedia has an article on:

Banjul

Wikipedia

English

Proper noun

Banjul

1. The capital of The Gambia.