Introduction:
Bijilo Forest Park & Nature Trail (Monkey Park)
lies in the coastal zone, next to the beach, about 11km
west of Banjul
capital, in the Kombo Saint Mary District, of The Gambia
in West Africa. The species rich, fenced woodland was
gazetted in 1952 & covers an area of 51.3 hectares
(126 acres / about half a square km), & is on the
Atlantic Ocean beach at the southern end of the Senegambia
area of Kololi.
It has a total length of 1,500 meters parallel to the
coast & width of 350 meters, & the soils are
deep & well drained. The protected nature
reserve is comprised primarily of a closed canopy
forest with a significant number of rhun palms, &
with a relatively thin strip of herbaceous dune vegetation.
Between
1951 to 1956 the only land management activity implemented
was the clearing of fire lines along the boundaries
on both sides of the fence. In 1977 the park was re-surveyed
by the Dept.
of Forestry and again in 1982, this was followed
by an inventory of the park. A nature trail was created
by the Gambian-German Forestry Project in 1991, when
the area was made open to the public, & now receives
about 23,000 visitors a year.
Nature
Trail & Habitats: The
nature trail in Bijilo Forest Park is over 4.5 km of
signposted footpaths that winds its way through contrasting
habitats of forest, coastal
scrubland and sand dunes. The majority of it is reasonably
level though there are several steeper inclines with
roughed out steps. For the park's visitors there are
wooden benches and shaded covers set up at convenient
points along the path and also some viewing areas overlooking
the sand dunes, beachfront and the Atlantic ocean. You
can find a map of the various routes on boards located
throughout the mini-forest. There is also a 'straight'
footpath which cuts through the scrub and forest close
to the beach
called the 'ornithological path'. This route provides
good opportunities to spot many of the park's bird life.
There is also a pond in the forest which is maintained
and acts as a watering hole for many creatures.
Fauna:
The
rainforest is home to various invertebrates, reptiles
and mammalian species. Among the primates are troops
of Green Vervet Monkeys, Western Red Colobus Monkeys,
Senegal Bushbabies (Gulagos), Callithrix Monkey, Campbell's
Mona Monkey and Patas. Other mammal species includes
the Sun Squirrel, African Civet, Genets, Mongoose, Brush
Tailed Porcupine and some rodents. Among the reptiles
here are Agama, Rainbow and Monitor Lizards and you
can also see fire ants, dragonflies, termites, butterflies,
and the Golden Silk Orb-weaver among the numerous of
insects and spiders.
Note: There
are signs requesting locals and holidaymakers alike
to not feed the monkeys, as this will reduce their fear
of humans and disrupt their natural behaviour, which
then increases the danger of small primates being stolen
or hurt. There is also the problem of litter cased
by such food packaging. There are plenty of fruit trees
and other naturally growing foods for them to feed on.
Avi Fauna:
Bijilo Forest Park is rich in birdlife and offers excellent
opportunities for bird
watching in The Gambia. Over 133 bird species have
been recorded here with various hornbills, pheasants,
cuckoos, sunbirds, starlings, weavers, waxbills, eagles
and hawks, etc. Some of the recorded species are the
Black-necked Weaver, Red-billed
Hornbill, Greater Honeyguide, Green-backed Eremomela,
Grey-backed Camaroptera, Bearded Barbet, Oriole Warbler,
Lizard Buzzard, Variable Sunbird, Western Grey Plantain
Eater, Blue Breasted and Woodland Kingfisher, Yellow
Crowned Gonolek, Paradise Flycatcher, Senegal Coucal,
African Grey Hornbill, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Red-necked
Falcon, Black-billed Wood-dove, Reinward's Babbler,
Hooded Vulture, Snowy-crowned Robin-chat, Violet Turaco,
Fanti Saw-wing, Laughing Dove, Little Bee-eater, Ahanta
Francolin, White-throated Bee-eater, Stone Partridge,
Palm-nut Vulture, Peregrine Falcon, Long-tailed Nightjar
and many other avians.
Flora: • Mixed Pterocamus & Borassus
Stand
The African Padauk and Palmyra Palm stand is found on
the plateau. Other species present in the stand include
Terminalia, oil palm and a variety of other species
like Cordyla, Piliostigma, Prosopis, and Entanda.
• Rhun
Palm stand
This exists on the slope to the Atlantic Ocean and exhibits
the best growth rate. • Shrub &
Parinari Macrophylla Sabine Stand
The sand dunes on the sea side is stocked with brush
and shrub.
You can also find lilies, salt-tolerant vines, wild
orchids, climbers, towering silk cotton trees, and the
occasional baobab
tree (sometimes referred to as the upside down tree).
Travel Information & How To Get There:
The
Bijilo Forest Park Nature Trail is next to the entrance
to the Kololi
Beach Club and is within easy walking distance to the
Senegambia
Hotel and Kairaba Hotel. To get there you can either
walk directly from the Senegambia beach area or use
the road from the strip and stroll directly down southwards
until you get to the link-chain fence and sign, then
turn right, and walk down towards the beach and you
will see the main entrance to your left, with attendant
guides. Their opening hours are from 8am to 6pm every
day.
See also
Safety.
Contact Address Details: Dept.
of Forestry &
the Environment
Marina Parade
Banjul, The Gambia
West Africa
Tel no: +220 422 7307 Email:
info@mofen.gov.gm
[Geographical coordinates 13.4328° N, 16.7264° W
/ Kombo North St. Mary District (Ksmd)] |