Bakau
Encyclopedia
Bakau is a town on the Atlantic Ocean
coast of The Gambia, lying west of Banjul
. It is known for its botanical gardens, its crocodile pool Bakau Kachikally and for the beach
es at Cape Point. It is the first major suburb outside Banjul
and the most developed town in The Gambia. Close to Bakau and Banjul
is Serrekunda
Despite being a major town, the old village still exists and is run like any other in The Gambia
with an 'Alkali' (similar to 'Mayor') and divided into Kabilos.Interestingly, there exists a much smaller village within the old village called Bakau Wasulung Kunda, indicating the migrant origins of its inhabitants.
As people began to move out of Banjul
, government allocated residential areas quickly sprung around the old village, acquiring new names in the process. What were farms of the local population became well planned suburbs filled with bungalows such as Fajara, New Town and Cape Point.
Fishing is also another major business activity and there is a fishing port by the town beach together with a wharf where a market attracts many visitors. One of the few ice plants in the country is located there.
Afrinat International Airlines
had its head office in Bakau.
The Medical Research Council is also located within a fenced complex. The MRC has a long history in The Gambia and is a leading global centre of excellence in malaria
research.http://www.mrc.ac.uk/prn/index/about/about-research_centres/about-unit_details.htm?ID=17
, is located here.
The national broadcaster, Radio Gambia, is located in Bakau at its Mile 7 studios. There is also a large military camp, a police barracks and a fire brigade.
Ebou Sillah
Ousman Jallow
Lamin Babaye Konateh
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
coast of The Gambia, lying west of Banjul
Banjul
-Transport:Ferries sail from Banjul to Barra. The city is served by the Banjul International Airport. Banjul is on the Trans–West African Coastal Highway connecting it to Dakar and Bissau, and will eventually provide a paved highway link to 11 other nations of ECOWAS.Banjul International Airport...
. It is known for its botanical gardens, its crocodile pool Bakau Kachikally and for the beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
es at Cape Point. It is the first major suburb outside Banjul
Banjul
-Transport:Ferries sail from Banjul to Barra. The city is served by the Banjul International Airport. Banjul is on the Trans–West African Coastal Highway connecting it to Dakar and Bissau, and will eventually provide a paved highway link to 11 other nations of ECOWAS.Banjul International Airport...
and the most developed town in The Gambia. Close to Bakau and Banjul
Banjul
-Transport:Ferries sail from Banjul to Barra. The city is served by the Banjul International Airport. Banjul is on the Trans–West African Coastal Highway connecting it to Dakar and Bissau, and will eventually provide a paved highway link to 11 other nations of ECOWAS.Banjul International Airport...
is Serrekunda
Serrekunda
Serrekunda is the largest city in The Gambia, lying southwest of Banjul. Its population as of 2006, was 335,733 people. Although Banjul is The Gambia's capital, it is on an island, making further growth difficult and channeling much of the growth to Serekunda.Serrekunda is known for its market,...
History
Legend has it that Bakau grew up around the holy crocodile pool in the central district of Bakau, Kachikally. Bakau itself was a small village at the turn of the 19th century and grew in importance as it became a favourite place for private residences of colonial administrators especially along the beautiful palm fringed beaches.Despite being a major town, the old village still exists and is run like any other in The Gambia
The Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
with an 'Alkali' (similar to 'Mayor') and divided into Kabilos.Interestingly, there exists a much smaller village within the old village called Bakau Wasulung Kunda, indicating the migrant origins of its inhabitants.
As people began to move out of Banjul
Banjul
-Transport:Ferries sail from Banjul to Barra. The city is served by the Banjul International Airport. Banjul is on the Trans–West African Coastal Highway connecting it to Dakar and Bissau, and will eventually provide a paved highway link to 11 other nations of ECOWAS.Banjul International Airport...
, government allocated residential areas quickly sprung around the old village, acquiring new names in the process. What were farms of the local population became well planned suburbs filled with bungalows such as Fajara, New Town and Cape Point.
Economy
Tourism is the most important business activity in Bakau providing a lot of employment, as well as income for the municipal authority. At Cape Point there are a few hotels on a beach, arguably superior to the main Atlantic ocean beach, which is home to most of the hotels in the country. In town there are a few guest houses. There is also a major market along the main road famous for its fruit and vegetables. Most banks have branches there and several companies also maintain offices there.Fishing is also another major business activity and there is a fishing port by the town beach together with a wharf where a market attracts many visitors. One of the few ice plants in the country is located there.
Afrinat International Airlines
Afrinat International Airlines
Afrinat International Airlines was an airline headquartered in Bakau, The Gambia. It was founded in 2002, and provided scheduled services within West Africa out of Banjul International Airport...
had its head office in Bakau.
Education
Bakau Primary school, established in 1947, is one of the oldest schools in the country. http://www.niica.on.ca/gambia/Region1.aspx Today there are other lower basic schools as well a several high schools, both public and private.The Medical Research Council is also located within a fenced complex. The MRC has a long history in The Gambia and is a leading global centre of excellence in malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
research.http://www.mrc.ac.uk/prn/index/about/about-research_centres/about-unit_details.htm?ID=17
Infrastructure
Bakau is perhaps the most developed settlement in The Gambia with excellent communication facilities. Only the major roads are paved and the rate of electricity connection is almost universal. There are several hotels, a few guest houses and the only national Stadium, The Independence StadiumIndependence Stadium (Bakau)
Independence Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Bakau, Gambia. It is currently used mostly for football matches, although it is also used for music concerts, political events, trade fairs and national celebrations...
, is located here.
The national broadcaster, Radio Gambia, is located in Bakau at its Mile 7 studios. There is also a large military camp, a police barracks and a fire brigade.
Attractions
- Kachikally Crocodile Pool
- Botanical Gardens
- Fajara Hotel
- Ocean bay Hotel
- African Village Hotel
- Cape Point Hotel
- SunBeach Hotel
- The Garden Guest House
Personality
- Njogu Demba-NyrénNjogu Demba-NyrénNjogu Demba-Nyrén is a Gambian footballer who has represented Gambia at full international level and currently plays in Denmark for Esbjerg fB.- Notts County :...
- Amadou SanyangAmadou SanyangAmadou Sanyang is a Gambian footballer who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Professional:Sanyang began his professional career with Real de Banjul of the Gambian Championnat National D1...
Ebou Sillah
Ousman Jallow
Lamin Babaye Konateh