Bakau is a town on the

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

coast of

Gambia The Gambia,, ff, Gammbi, ar, غامبيا officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a country in West Africa. It is the smallest country within mainland AfricaHoare, Ben. (2002) ''The Kingfisher A-Z Encyclopedia'', Kingfisher Publicatio ...

, west of Gambia's capital city of

Banjul Banjul (,"Banjul"
(US) and ), officially the City of Ba ...

. It is known for its botanical gardens, its crocodile pool '' Bakau Kachikally'' and for the beaches at

Cape Point Cape Point ( af, Kaappunt) is a promontory at the southeast corner of the Cape Peninsula, a mountainous and scenic landform that runs north-south for about thirty kilometres at the extreme southwestern tip of the African continent in South Afri ...

. Bakau is the first major suburb outside

Banjul Banjul (,"Banjul"
(US) and ), officially the City of Ba ...

and the most developed town in the Gambia. Close to Bakau and

Banjul Banjul (,"Banjul"
(US) and ), officially the City of Ba ...

is Gambia's largest city, Serekunda.

History

Legend has it that Bakau grew up around the holy crocodile pool in Kachikally, the central district of Bakau. 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, with an 'Alkali' (similar to 'Mayor') and divided into ''Kabilos''. 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 (,"Banjul"
(US) and ), officially the City of Ba ...

, government allocated residential areas quickly sprang 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 Fajara is a coastal suburb of Bakau in the Gambia. It is home to Isatou Njie-Saidy, a former Vice-President of the Gambia, the former US Ambassador, and formerly the home town of the late Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, a former Prime Minister of the G ...

, New Town, Cape Point, Mile7 and Farrowkono (formerly used as gardens by the locals)

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 fe
guest houses
There is also a major market along the main road famous for its fruit and vegetables. 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. Gardening is also another major business activity in which the local women are mostly engaged on for livelihood. The town has many shops, selling different types of products and services along the Sait Matty Road. Afrinat International Airlines had its head office in Bakau. *Bakau Primary School *NewTown Primary School *Marina International Scholl *West African International School *Gambia Methodist Academy *American International School *Glory Baptist Senior Secondary School *Bakau Upper Basic School *Presidents' Awards Scheme *Katchikally Nursery School *Starlight School

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 and a few guest houses. The only national Stadium, The Independence Stadium, is located here. The national broadcaster, Radio Gambia, is located in Bakau at its Mile 7 studios. UN country headquarters is also located here with different foreign embassies. There is also a large military camp, a police barracks and a fire brigade.

Attractions

* Kachikally Museum and Crocodile Pool, Bakau * Botanical Gardens, Atlantic Boulevard Road, Bakau * Fajara Hotel, Fajara, Bakau * Ocean bay Hotel, Cape Point * African Village Hotel, Bakau *

Cape Point Hotel A cape is a clothing accessory or a sleeveless outer garment which drapes the wearer's back, arms, and chest, and connects at the neck. History Capes were common in medieval Europe, especially when combined with a hood in the chaperon. The ...

, Cape Point * Sun Beach Hotel, Cape Point * The Garden Guest House, Bakau * Bakau Basketball Academy, Bakau *

Swedish and Norwegian Counsulate Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...

Independence Stadium Independence Stadium may also refer to: * Independence Stadium (Bakau) in Gambia * Independence Stadium (Namibia) in Windhoek * Independence Stadium (South Africa) in Mthatha, a football stadium in South Africa * Independence Stadium (Tanzania) ...

, Bakau * Rock Heights, Cape Point * Tanbi Wetland Complex, Old Cape Road *UNICEF office *British embassy, 48, Atlantic boulevard, Fajara *Fajara war cemetery,

Notable people

* Dawda Jawara, former head of state of The Gambia * Hassan Bubacar Jallow, Chief Justice of The Gambia * Raymond Sock, Judge * Amie Bensouda , Corporate Lawyer * Jaysuma Saidy Ndure, athlete * Njogu Demba-Nyrén, footballer *

Kekuta Manneh Kekuta Manneh (born 30 December 1994) is a Gambian-American professional soccer player who plays as a winger. Club career Youth and amateur Manneh began his career at the several youth academies, including Gilcock Academy, in Gambia before mov ...

, footballer *

Amadou Sanyang Amadou Sanyang (born 1 August 1991) is a Gambian footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder. Career Professional Sanyang began his professional career with Real de Banjul of the Gambian Championnat National D1. Sanyang's time with Real ...

, footballer *

Lamin Jallow Lamin Jallow (born 22 July 1994) is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Turkish club Adanaspor and the Gambia national team. Club career Born in Banjul, Jallow has played for Real de Banjul, Chievo Verona, Cittade ...

, footballer *

Jizzle Jizzle may refer to: * Jizzle (artist) Jerreh Jallow (born 14 August 1994), proffesionaly known as Jizzle) is a Gambian Afro-pop artist. He won the artist of the year award at the Whasahalat Music Awards in 2018. He has also been nominated for ...

, musician *

Malando Gassama Malando Gassama (born Malang Omar Gassam; 7 February 1946 – 25 January 1999) was a Gambian percussionist who spent most of his music career in Sweden. He recorded and performed with many notable Swedish and international artists such as A ...

, percussionist *

Abdou Jammeh Abdou Jammeh (born 13 February 1986) is a Gambian professional footballer. Career Jammeh previously played for FC Torpedo Moscow in the Russian First Division. He signed for Torpedo in early 2008, following the relegation of his previous si ...

, footballer *

Bubacarr Jobe Bubacarr Jobe (born November 21, 1994) is a Gambian footballer who currently plays for Swedish club Norrby IF. Career Jobe moved to the United States in 2011, and first played for Rush Soccer alongside Vancouver Whitecaps forward Kekuta Manneh ...

, footballer

Gallery

File:Gambia 012 from KG.jpg File:Gambia 008 from KG.jpg File:Gambia Bakau 0002.jpg File:Gambia Bakau 0001.jpg, Church in Bakau File:BeachResort Bakau Gambia.jpg, Atlantic Ocean from a Bakau resort File:Road Scene Bakau Gambia.jpg, Road in Bakau

References

External links

Bakau Hotels, Photos, Information and Map

Bakau is linked to Kings Langley, a village in Hertfordshire, UK
{{Coord, 13, 29, N, 16, 41, W, region:GM_type:city, display=title Populated places in the Gambia