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The national park was established in 1978 and is
made up of a complex of 5 islands that lie on the river
in the Central
River Division
(Region) about
300 kilometres upstream to the south west of Kuntaur (see
map)
and downstream of Janjangbureh,
Georgetown. The 5 island are collectively known as
Baboon Islands which cover an area of approximately
1,445 acres (585 ha.) and are relatively flat. It forms one of the last refuges
for the very threatened hippopotamus within The Gambia. Their ecological systems range from
lush
jungle rainforest, reeds, savannah and mangrove swamps.
An interesting place to
visit is the
Chimpanzee
Rehabilitation Camp (CRC) which lies on the
banks of the river and was established in 1969 to rescue
 orphaned
chimps. There are currently about fifty Chimpanzees living on 3 of the
larger islands. The population is steadily increasing through births.
In addition to reintroducing an indigenous species to the country, the
existence of the park's project on Baboon Islands has
assisted in protecting the forest and its resources from over
exploitation. The DPWM and the
CRP work hand in and for the protection of the area and its environs. Though it is not possible to land on the islands as it is a
conservation project, under the
Department of Parks, it possible to see the creatures while on a
boat cruise passing by or alternatively you could stay at the projects
accommodation camp located on the river bank and see them up close.
The animal life on this section of the River Gambia
National Park
includes hippopotamus, Nile
crocodiles and monkeys such as
the Green Vervet Colobus, Egrets, Ibis, Herons Guinea Baboons Aardvark,
Bushbuck, many reptile species and sometimes even porpoises.
Visitor Information: CRC
Bush treks
on guided tours
Boat safaris
Can accommodate 8 persons
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