Brikama, West Coast Region, Gambia
We are a 20 minute walk from the town of Brikama . Brikama is one of the largest cities in the Gambia, lying south of the country's capital, Banjul. Brikama is known for wood carving and for its musicians. Brikama is not an obvious place to stay for tourists visiting The Gambia, as it is about 37km southeast of the coastal resorts. the central area of the settlement there is the village market selling food, clothes and household goods, several banks, the post office, Gamtel, the livestock market, mosques, the fire station, the craft market, the police station, a Catholic church, petrol stations such as Galp, hardware retail stores, and other amenities.
Brikama's outlying rural areas are characterised by small villages, forests, savanna scrub, and small and large farm holdings. The places worth visiting in these areas are the various nature conservation reserves. To the east of the town's vicinity is the Pirang Forest Park, a forest gallery between the south bank highway and the River Gambia. Its varied habitats are rich birdwatching grounds. There is the conservation project centred around the Jola Kachokorr camp in the Tumani Tenda Eco-Reserve, near Kafuta. Here you can spend a few nights, relax in the rural surroundings, as well as learn about local customs, culture, and cuisine. To the north east of the town is the Nyambai Forest. The most popular tourist attraction in the vicinity of Brikama is the Makasutu Cultural Forest. A private nature reserve with mangroves, salt-flats, savannah, hard-wood and palm forests. Their visitor centre has a decent restaurant and superb swimming pool. Makasutu is also home to the luxury accommodation based in the forest called Mandina Lodges. Then to the south of Brikama there is the area around Marakissa village. Here you will find attractive woodland, savanna and palm trees, which are attractive breeding and feeding grounds for numerous migratory and resident bird species. There is the Marakissa River Camp, to the south, which caters well for birdwatchers, with its flat roof overlooking the river.
Brikama's evening entertainment is quite subdued most of the time, and very localized. Aside from the craft market, the area is not generally geared towards tourists. However, when there is a major Senegambian artist playing in Jokor Night Club, the entertainment scene gets more lively. Concert goers from all over the vicinity, and the rest of the Kombos, as far as Bakau, will make the long trip into town.
Despite its low-key atmosphere there are a few good restaurants and bars around, and if you ask a few locals you might be directed to a few bars and restaurants in the locality.
