Gambia River National Park -Gambia (West Africa)

The Gambia River National Park, also known as Baboon Island, is situated in the Niamina East district of Central River Division in Gambia; about 300km upstream to the south-west of Kuntaur, and downstream of Janjanbureh, Georgetown. Beautifully resting on the banks of the River Gambia, the park includes the 585 hectare (1450 acres) Baboon Island archipelago, which comprises five Islands. Established in 1978, the River Gambia National Park constitutes the last refuge for the highly endangered hippopotamus population in Gambia. The ecological content of the park ranges from lush rainforest, reeds, savannah and swamps of mangroves.

Since 1979, the Gambia River National Park is the site of a chimpanzee-reintroduction initiative; a scheme conducted by the Chimpanzees Rehabilitation Project (CRP). Through this project, chimpanzees are confiscated from illegal animal traders and reintroduced into the forest in the park. Today, numerous groups of chimpanzee dwell on the three largest river Islands, in a manner devoid of human disturbance or intrusion. The population of these chimpanzees is steadily growing.

In addition to offering safeguard to chimpanzees, this project has equally enabled the protection of the forests on these Islands, which were hitherto threatened by overexploitation.

Visitors normally view these Islands and the wildlife through sailing on the River Gambia. Landing on the Islands is forbidden; but in exceptional circumstances where landing is permitted, visitors are forbidden from actually venturing further onto the Island. This has been brought about by the need to protect both the animals and visitors, because chimpanzees can be highly aggressive towards humans; but also to prevent a massive disruption of the conservation processes on the Islands. Nonetheless, under the Department of Parks, it’ possible to view the creatures while sailing in a boat; or, one can lodge at the accommodation camp of the conservation project, which is located right on the river bank; and view these interesting creatures at close range.

The animal life on this section of the River Gambia National Park includes hippopotamus; and monkeys such as the green vervet colobus, egrets, ibis, herons Guinea baboons, aardvark and bushbuck. Numerous reptile species also dwell in the park, including the Nile crocodiles, snakes, lizards and sometimes even porpoises.