The smiling coast of Africa

and a river who was once known to be home to the biggest population of crocodiles of any river in Africa.

Mangroves dominated the vegetation in the lower Gambia. Less salt is in the water as further one sails up the Gambia, once there is no more salt in the water, the vegetation changes rapidly, the Mangroves give place to dense forest.

We sailed up river as far as Kuntaur, a village about 100 miles from the coast. There one can find not only an ancient sanctuary, the «Wassau Stone Cyrcle» but also the «Baboon Islands» wich are under protection and offers a place for hippos, crocodiles and chimpanzees. It has to be said that all the chimpanzees are individuals who have been freed from captivity, the reason they are settled on the islands is no other that there the can be protected easier than on the mainland.

In Kuntaur Kilian and Noah left me to to visit the Casamance. I solo sailed to Banjul where I was going to meet Noah again together with Nando.