Gunjur

Gunjur is a coastal town in Kombo South District, Western Region, and the largest fishing community in the Gambia — much of the fleet is worked by Senegalese fishermen, many of whom live in the town. Founded in the mid-18th century by the Darboe and Touray families, who came from Mali and built the first mosque in this part of West Africa, the town's name means roughly "the village built where the hill was flattened." Gunjur became a centre of Muslim resistance during the 19th-century Soninke-Marabout wars under Foday Kabba Touray before the British conquered it in 1893 and folded it into the Gambia Colony and Protectorate. Population estimates range from about 17,500 (2009) to roughly 25,000 in more recent counts. The nearby wetlands are a recognized birdwatching site.

By car/road: taxi from Banjul (50 minutes) or Brikama (25 minutes).

Walkable. Motorcycle-taxis.

The fishing port and fish market. Beaches.

Watch the fishing boats. Visit the fish market. Birdwatch.

Small restaurants serve fresh seafood.

Local bars.

Small guesthouses.

Fresh fish at the market.

• Sanyang — 10 km north, beach town
• Kartong — 10 km south, southernmost town
• Brikama — 25 km northeast