Banjul

Banjul is the capital city of The Gambia, situated on St Mary's Island at the mouth of the Gambia River. The island sits where river currents meet the Atlantic Ocean, connected to the mainland by Denton Bridge. Mangrove wetlands border the southern edge of the town along the estuary.

Captain Alexander Grant established the settlement in 1816 as a military garrison and commercial station. The settlement took the name Bathurst after colonial secretary Henry Bathurst. Maritime trade expanded along the West African coast as streets developed in a regular grid pattern. The country gained independence in the 1960s, designating the city as the national government seat. The republic changed the name of the capital to Banjul in 1973, restoring a traditional Mandinka designation. Stone and timber structures from the colonial era remain standing along the historic thoroughfares.

Banjul is the administrative center and main commercial seaport of The Gambia. Cargo handling through the Port of Banjul anchors the economy, serving as the transit point for national maritime imports and international exports. Peanut processing and oil pressing represent the leading agro-industrial activities, supported by processing facilities located along the shoreline. Fishery enterprises process ocean catches for wholesale distribution and export, while petroleum storage depots supply fuel across the country. Commercial banks and the Central Bank of The Gambia maintain financial operations in the business district.

Arch 22 rises 35 m (115 ft) above the entrance roadway into the city, featuring a barrel-vaulted passage and an elevated observation gallery. The Gambia National Museum displays historical manuscripts, ethnographic items, and traditional musical instruments from different regional cultures. Twin minarets flank the King Fahad Mosque, which hosts major religious gatherings near the waterfront. Street stalls throughout Albert Market sell batiks, carved woodwork, fresh produce, and Atlantic fish. Pedestrian lanes connect the market stalls with historic administrative buildings along the waterfront.