Why Visit The Gambia

Barra Point - The Gambia

Barra lies on the North Bank of the River Gambia, opposite Banjul and is the north terminal for the Banjul to Barra Ferry. The ferry itself is most definitely not for the faint hearted or for those who easily have a sense of humour failure! Purchasing a ticket is difficult and confusing and the 45 minute crossing is very crowded with people trying to sell you everything from peanuts to a shoe shine. Plus, the timetable can be somewhat erratic however it is an experience that shouldn't be missed. There really isn't much to interest tourists in Barra except for Fort Bullen. The British guns in Banjul could only cover half the width of the river, so to control slave shipping on the river, the British built Fort Bullen in the 1820's. The fort was abandoned in the 1870's but was modernised by the British during WWII. Please note, however, that the fort can now only be viewed from afar and it is not possible to visit under any circumstances.