Let's leave the streets, markets and residential areas for a while and head inland, away from city and tarmac.
I think - do correct me if I'm wrong - the Gambian landscape is between lush green South Africa (as shown in the glossy travel guides) and the dry and barren Sahel desert. More Sahel than South.
The Gambia is savannah. Most of it dry savannah. To be honest, landscape wise that's a bit boring.
Now the Gambia is really lucky with the River - ok, that's the whole idea of the Gambia.
The Gambia.
I never gave it a second thought really, but the name of the country is the name of the river. The river that runs through Senegal.
So there's large Senegal, with this river in the South running due West into the Atlantic. The riverbanks, up to 25-30 km. North and South of the river, makes up the Gambia, the country.
Despite the river the land is mainly dry with the occasional solitary tree and fields where peanuts (groundnuts) are grown. Those fields had to be pointed out to us - couldn't see the difference between uncultivated and farmed land. Sorry.
What we did notice though - almost the moment we stepped outside the confines of the hotel - was a strong, heady scent of a herb that reminded us of Italy. We guessed it was thyme. We found out it was called the 'Gambian tea bush'. Latin name Lippia, hip to head high, not a thyme but a sort of oregano.
You drink it as tea, it's sold on the markets and just about everywhere you go you can pick it for free. Brought some to Holland - exactly the sort of souvenir I like to bring back home.
Let's give you an impression of what the Gambia looks like - away from the river.
I think - do correct me if I'm wrong - the Gambian landscape is between lush green South Africa (as shown in the glossy travel guides) and the dry and barren Sahel desert. More Sahel than South.
The Gambia is savannah. Most of it dry savannah. To be honest, landscape wise that's a bit boring.
Now the Gambia is really lucky with the River - ok, that's the whole idea of the Gambia.
The Gambia.
I never gave it a second thought really, but the name of the country is the name of the river. The river that runs through Senegal.
So there's large Senegal, with this river in the South running due West into the Atlantic. The riverbanks, up to 25-30 km. North and South of the river, makes up the Gambia, the country.
Despite the river the land is mainly dry with the occasional solitary tree and fields where peanuts (groundnuts) are grown. Those fields had to be pointed out to us - couldn't see the difference between uncultivated and farmed land. Sorry.
What we did notice though - almost the moment we stepped outside the confines of the hotel - was a strong, heady scent of a herb that reminded us of Italy. We guessed it was thyme. We found out it was called the 'Gambian tea bush'. Latin name Lippia, hip to head high, not a thyme but a sort of oregano.
You drink it as tea, it's sold on the markets and just about everywhere you go you can pick it for free. Brought some to Holland - exactly the sort of souvenir I like to bring back home.
Let's give you an impression of what the Gambia looks like - away from the river.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.