INTRODUCTION:
 The
Cape Point beach resort makes up the north-eastern part of the
town of Bakau, in the Kombo
St Mary District, in the West Coast Region of The Gambia, and
is 12km to the west of Banjul
capital. The district is a promontory and its beach area is where
the River Gambia and the
Atlantic Ocean merge at the estuary. To Cape Point's eastern coastline
is a wide seafront of fine, golden sand, while much of its north-western
coastline starts at sea level, then, as you head south west it
rises up to over 15 metres, and is mostly characterised by laterite
cliffs dotted with palms along a narrow strand. Further to its
southeast are the brackish mangrove swamps of Cape Creek, frequented
by wetland birds.
ACCOMMODATION:
 The
tourist enclave is in a very quiet part of town and close to a
scenic seafront, which is fringed by hotels,
palm trees, bushes, and up-market private residences. There are
a number of smaller hotels and guesthouses offering budget accommodation
such as the Cape Point Hotel.
The main tourist-class hotels here are the Ocean
Bay Hotel & Resort and the
Sunbeach Hotel & Resort. If you prefer self-catering
in deluxe surroundings with a small shared pool, then try one
of the 12 luxury holiday apartments of the
Cape Residence.
BEACH AREA:
 Cape
Point beach and its adjacent area is one of The Gambia's most
family-friendly holiday resorts, and here the wide, beautiful
strip of sand is lined with mature palm trees, grasses and thatched
sunshades. You might also see some basalt boulders strategically
place along part of the shoreline to counteract erosion of the
sands.
Although erratic currents make it unsuitable for swimming, it's
perfect for sunbathing, volleyball, strolling, picnics, and making
sandcastles, and there's a broad choice of
restaurants and beach bars close
by. In the country as a whole there are often sightings of roaming
livestock, so don't be surprised if you see the odd goat or cow
trudging along the sand roaming and looking for anything edible
to eat. There are also juice stands
near the southern part of the main strand selling various juices
such as mango, melon, coconut, baobab, orange and grapefruit.
Sundays is the main day when local Gambians come to the strand
to relax with their families or play a bit of football or volleyball.
GENERAL AREA:
 Not
only is the district's shore area a tourist magnet it is also
an exclusive residential location which has a large number of
people from the diplomatic community, such as Britain's diplomatic
residence, 'Admiralty House', well-to-do businessmen, politicians
and some well established family compounds. The vast majority
of these homes are within the triangle formed by the Kofi Annan
Street, the Old Cape Road and Capepoint Road.
At the tourist centre is the tourist craft
market, several bureau de change, mini-markets, some bars
and restaurants
and green tourist taxis; all accompanied by a high level of security
provided by security guards and official paramilitary police.
This makes the general locality the safest place to live or go
on holiday. Furthermore, the water and electricity supplies are
more stable here and you are less likely to experience power outages.
A LITTLE HISTORY:
 The
promontory was 'discovered' by Portuguese navigators of this part
of West Africa in the 15th century, and they named it 'Cabo de
Santa Maria' (Cape of Saint Mary). The name overflowed to the
nearby island when the British established the capital Bathurst
(now Banjul). It was part of 'British Kombo' in the mid 1800s.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO:
• Birdwatching
 The
most fruitful areas for birdwatching
are around Cape Creek, which is traversed by the Old Cape Road
southeast of Bakau, and Sting Corner, at the intersection of Sait
Matty Road and the Serrekunda to Banjul Highway. The road that
cuts through the creek is a pleasurable stroll at any time of
day during the winter season, going past a thinly wooded area
of baobab trees, oil palm trees, tamarisk, tall grasses and rhun
palms.
The Creek is surrounded by swamp mangroves and brackish mudflats;
this sector produces sightings of many bird species such as parakeets,
marsh harriers, blue-bellied rollers, gull-billed and Caspian
terns, blue-cheeked bee-eaters, black kites, blue-breasted kingfishers
and starlings; while the mudflats are frequented by birds such
as the Senegal thick-knees and spur-winged plovers. In the creek
you may see fish-eating birds such as ospreys, reef herons, pied
kingfishers, long-tailed shags and red-chested swallows.
While on route from Bakau to Sting Corner via Sait Matty Road
you will see the vegetable gardens tended to by the Bakau Women's
Cooperative, and, especially in the rice growing season, this
is an excellent place to spot cattle egrets, lily-trotters and
squacco herons.
• Crocodile Pool
 The
lagoon was initially cut into the sands by the ocean and
is in front of the Calypso Restaurant. The lagoon was then expanded
and made more permanent when the Gambian owner of the diner found
a few West African crocodiles had decided to make it their home.
It is now partly lined with large laterite rocks and grasses,
and has become a local tourist attraction for holidaymakers and
locals alike. In fact as you head south towards the creek
there is an increased likelihood of seeing wild crocodiles among
the vegetation.
• Craft Market
 Called
the Sunwing
Tourist Craft Market it is located on a road island occupying
half of one side. There are numbered shop units selling a variety
of souvenirs such as batiks, tie & dye hangings, wooden carved
masks, necklaces, drums, necklaces, shoes and trade beads. Nearby
you can find women selling a variety of tropical fruits from their
street side stalls.
• Horse Riding
It is possible to do some horseback riding on Cape Point's strand
which are available from the Ocean Bay and Sunbeach hotels. Often
you will find them exercising their horses up and down the beachfront;
all you have to do is stop one of them and ask the price for a
session.
• Botanical Gardens
 The
Bakau Botanical Garden
is situated just after the end of the northern point of Atlantic
Road and was established in the last decade the 19th century.
The trees and shrubs are surrounded by a fence and is signposted
on the main road. There is a walking track that works its way
around the garden's labelled trees as well as a grass roofed shaded
area to sit in and relax. It is at its most green towards the
end of the monsoon season. There are also an assortment of bird
species fluttering between the trees and you might be lucky to
spot a bulbul or mannikin among others.
(Tel no: 7774482)
• Restaurants
Among the various
restaurants in the area are the following:
• Fan Fang
Chinese Bar & Restaurant
• Calypso Beach Bar & Restaurant
• Sandplover
Restaurant
• Italian Connection
• Sunshine Beach Bar
• African Heritage
Guesthouse
• Frank's Hungarian (Tel no: 4497362)
HEALTH & SAFETY:
The Cape Point enclave is renowned in The Gambia for the high
level of security and safety
due to the presence of numerous security personnel working in
this largely residential area. Starting from the Craft Market
the Atlantic Road is well lit but provides little in the way of
a pedestrian pavement, while Kofi Annan Street is also well lit,
wider and has access to the beach from the Ocean Bay Hotel.
Going along the Old Cape Road towards Banjul
the road is lit but bordered by mangroves, and it is not recommended
to walk along here at night. There is plenty of vegetation in
the area harbouring mosquitoes, particularly straddling the beach,
so do apply sufficient mosquito repellent at dusk to reduce your
chances of getting malaria.
TRAVEL INFORMATION:
Despite not being a major through route there are yellow (standard)
and green tourist taxis constantly in the area around the Sunwing
Craft Market to take you to the nightspots in places such as Kololi
and Kotu. The are sometimes bicycles for
rent near the Ocean Bay Hotel and is a good way to explore the
general area and the creek as well as ride south towards Bakau
and Fajara. Car rentals are available
from some of the larger tourist hotels.
 Hotels
Map
Photos
Resorts
[Geographical coordinates 13° 29' 21"
N, 16° 40' 09" W / Kombo North Saint Mary District (Ksmd,
WCR)
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Attractions
Nature
Reserves
Resorts
Bakau
Banjul
Bijilo
Brufut
Cape
Point
Fajara
Gunjur
Jinack
Island
Kartong
Kololi
Kotu
Makasutu
Sanyang
Serrekunda
Tanji Village
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