One of The Gambia’s main tourist attractions, over 100 crocodiles reside in The Katchikali crocodile pool in Bakau. The crocodiles are very tame and have been raised to only eat fish.

by Karleen Cambridge
Special to the Tri-State Defender

Karleen Cambridge arrives at Juffereh, home to The Museum of Slavery, which houses many artifacts from the period referred to as The SeneGambia Trade. This particular trip is known as “The Roots” trip, named after Alex Haley’s book and film series “Roots.” (Photos courtesy of Karleen Cambridge)

Karleen Cambridge is a 26-year-old old Tourism Management student, who hails from the Caribbean island of St. Vincent and The Grenadines. She moved to the United Kingdom in 2003 and spent 6 ½ years – much of it traveling the world – in pursuit of a career with The Royal Navy (RN). She left the RN in 2009 to further her studies and now lives in London.

In January, she encountered Memphis music ambassador Dan Greer en route to London Gatwick Airport. The Tri-State Defender had commissioned Greer to travel to Cannes, France and report on the Midem International Music NRJ Awards. The two struck up a conversation about Cambridge’s pending trip to Africa and Greer’s passion about Music and Memphis. This is an account of her journey, observations and conclusions.

Mama Africa has been of great interest to me ever since I was a child. I yearned to experience the beauty that too often the media tend to “forget” when covering this magnificent continent – the home of my ancestors who were captured and brought to “The New World.”

I had read about The Gambia, West Africa as a tourist destination. As the smallest country on mainland Africa, with a population of about 1.7 million people, I felt it would be the perfect place for a novice to experience Mama Africa.

I booked a one-week (Feb. 2-9.) holiday through a UK tour operator called The Gambia Experience. My close friend, Gill, and I stayed at a 2-star hotel called The Palma Rima and the total package cost us less than £400 ($596.67) each. Our accommodation was basic but very clean and spacious, with very friendly and attentive staff (5/5).

I embarked on the journey oozing with excitement and a little fear of the unknown.

Enjoying the beats of some fine instrumentalists on the beach.

The people

The Gambia is known as “The Smiling Coast of Africa” and the reason is apparent from the time you step foot onto its soil.

Gambians as a whole are very amicable people; they respect themselves, each other and show humanity in myriad ways.

Walking through the streets of the capital, Banjul, we were invited to join in on a communal meal, just because we glanced at the pot. In the streets, vendors would tell you to have a lovely day after you declined the offer to buy their goods. Everywhere you go guys would automatically start looking out for you as if you were their little sister.

In The Gambia, everyone has your back, the main saying being “Nice to be nice!”

Lifestyle

One of The Gambia’s main tourist attractions, over 100 crocodiles reside in The Katchikali crocodile pool in Bakau. The crocodiles are very tame and have been raised to only eat fish.

If the Gambians were any more laid back, they would be horizontal! (lol) I sometimes wondered how anyone got any work done. Everyone would greet you and unless you end the conversation, they would talk for hours! And even when you would say bye, they would start another discussion.

Gambians are very inquisitive. In fact, our whereabouts seemed known to all,  even when we had only told the taxi driver where we were going. We would come back to the hotel and locals would ask, “How was the Roots trip?” Or, “Did you have a good time in WoW nightclub last night?”

Many that we spoke with had to work 12 hours a day, six days a week, yet they are always full of energy and enthusiasm for life. Stress seems to be non-existent in The Gambia. It is the first place I’ve been where people don’t know if it’s Wednesday or Sunday. Everyday feels the same.

Islam is the main religion. Many Gambians dress very conservatively and stay away from alcohol.

 Reggae and Rastafarian culture is loved in The Gambia. In every taxi, every restaurant, in many nightclubs, you would hear the latest reggae tunes blasting and everyone singing along.

I’ve never seen so many people wearing (dread) locs in one place. Every other man and his momma wear locs!

Nightlife & entertainment

No matter what time of day or night, the place is always buzzing. There is something for everyone – drumming, singing, plays, dancing, karaoke, lots of entertainment on the beaches and a wide selection of delicious local dishes and international cuisine.

The Senegambia strip has the most amazing, lively nightlife I’ve ever experienced. The nightclubs are sensational, many opening until around 5 a.m. and the locals come out in force EVERY NIGHT to party! Transportation after the club is plentiful. The local buses run late and there are scores of cheap yellow taxis and green tourist taxis outside the clubs. Plus, everyone wants to give everyone a ride home! (lol)

In all the partying we did, we only saw one drunkard, and even he was entertaining.

The Gambia has entertainment on lock! (10/10!)

This statue stands at the bay along Juffereh in remembrance of the Atlantic Slave Trade. Inscribed in stone are the powerful words “NEVER AGAIN.”

Attractions

Every possible product is sold at the Serrekunda market, and with so many people selling the same thing side by side, I wondered how there was never any animosity amongst the vendors.

At the monkey park in Kololi, the monkeys were really fascinating with their human-like features and antics. It was great that they were not caged and left to roam in the open.

I fell in love with the crocodile park. I’ve never seen so many happy/healthy looking crocodiles and they all had full tummies, just lazing in the sun. It was hilarious learning that they have been raised to only eat fish...vegetarian crocs. The funniest thing was that the crocodile park has no barriers and so the crocodiles can wander into the local community when they feel like it. This seldom happens though. Life is simply too sweet in the park!

The highlight was our trip to Juffureh and James Island. Here we visited the slave museum and saw the remnants of the cells in which captured Africans were housed in appalling conditions to be shipped off to “The New World.” It was a very surreal experience, especially being in the same cell where Kunta Kinte (an ancestor of “Roots” author Alex Haley) was chained to the walls awaiting shipment.

With such a dark past, it truly amazed me how The Gambian people are always so happy and cheerful. Life really goes on!

Odds and ends

• We saw many older European women coupled with much younger Gambian boys. I had heard about it before, but I didn’t expect it to be so prevalent.

• I encountered a number of Gambians that seemed to have an inferiority complex where skin complexion is concerned. On more than one occasion after refusing to dance or speak with men in the club, I was told, “Sister, don’t think you better than me because you have lighter skin.” I was shocked, hurt and appalled to say the least. I made sure to educate each and every one of them. Just one feel of my coarse hair and they stopped the nonsense.

• There are many North African and Middle Eastern investors in The Gambia. Many are categorized by the locals as “Lebanese” and there is a noticeable divide between them and the locals. We met some amazing guys from North Africa who really went out of their way to make sure we had an enjoyable time. Yet when some of the local guys saw us liming with them, they were hardly pleased. One even came up to me and said, “You don’t wanna talk to the black guys but you would talk to the Arabians.” In true Gambian style, he later apologized for his wayward remark.

• The Gambia has one of the lowest murder rates in the world, with a count of 0.71 murders per 100,000 people.

Lasting impression

The Gambians capture the essence of what I consider to be a fulfilling life. They embrace peace and love in everything that they do. They smile as if it they are being paid to. The negative aspects are barely noticeable, and the positives are countless.

I will be returning to The Gambia on March 25th, this time for two weeks. I can’t wait.

The Gambia is my Utopia...my paradise on Earth.