Blogs from Brikama, Western Division, Gambia, Africa

In southern Gambia we stayed in Sanyang, a small fishing village. Its three mile sandy beach has attracted a few passing tourists over the years and now there are a couple of beach bars with half a dozen rooms out the back. The fishing village is impressive. There are, we are told, over 300 fishing pirogues.- long brightly painted mahogany boats that go out to sea before we are up in the morning. All afternoon they return in ones and twos, full of fish. Ugly sea snails; shiny black snapper, bongo, butterfish and ladyfish; small sting rays. As the boats return, their crew beach the boat and await help. Slowly, other fishermen wander down the beach to the water's edge, pushing a few old logs which will act as rollers under the boat. Once there are ... read more