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The Gambian capital called Banjul is situated at a place where the River Gambia begins in St. Marys Island. This cozy city provides a warm combination of colonial architecture and contemporary offices. As you reach Banjul you will also witness their traditional houses that bring a sense of freshness in spite of the old architecture. It is better than seeing those typical modern compartmentalized houses for a while. Banjul displays plenty of African charm and the serene ambience with bits and pieces of tourist attractions all over the city making it a great place to visit. You can reach Banjul by air as there is an airport in the city. You can book your flights to Banjul in advance if need be. Apart from a number of churches, mosques and museums, it also consists of a National park called The Kiang West National Park.

The Kiang West National Park is one among several other protected parks in Banjul. The Park has a tranquil riverside because of the River Gambia flowing from its north. It spans an area of about 1,100 hectares. It has the biggest and the most varied wildlife flourishing in the region.

The region consists of deciduous forest all around as well as the Guinea savannah. You will also notice some tidal flats, thick expanse of mangrove creeks and bolong tributaries. You will find a number of animal species in the mangroves such as the West African manatee and the famous Nile crocodile. If you move further towards the mangrove fringes and the tidal flats you will encounter some claws on the tracks that are typical of animals such as Sitatunga, the clawless otter and marsh mongoose. The animals here find their food on their own. If you bump into the marsh mongoose you will also notice them feeding on the crabs found along the fringes of the mangrove.

If you are genuinely interested in watching some extremely unique variety of birds then this is the place to be. The Park consists of some 300 different kinds of birds. The three top regions to look for within the park are Jali, bolongs of Nganingkoi and Jarin.

Kiang West National Park is located at the southern side of the Gambian River and is almost a hundred kilometers away from the coast of the river. If you are planning to go by your own car, you will need at least 2 to 3 hours in hand as the Park is about 145 kilometers from the city. The park was given the national precedence in 1987.