8-451: 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 Gambia and the first President of the Gambia . The Medical Research Council is located within a fenced complex on Atlantic Boulevard. There
16-461: 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 , 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 , New Town, Cape Point, Mile7 and Farrowkono (formerly used as gardens by
24-459: Is a town on the Atlantic coast of Gambia , west of Gambia's capital city of Banjul . It is known for its botanical gardens , its crocodile pool Bakau Kachikally and for the beaches at Cape Point . Bakau is the first major suburb outside Banjul and the most developed town in the Gambia. Close to Bakau and Banjul is Gambia's largest city, Serekunda . Legend has it that Bakau grew up around
32-443: Is also a large military camp. Prior to the arrival of the first tourists in the 1960s the inhabitants' living revolved largely around fishing. Fajara is, however, becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination with around 20 hotel complexes on the beach and many more inland. Bertil Harding Highway is one of the town's main thoroughfares, named after the pioneering Swedish tourist who arrived in 1965. Bakau Bakau
40-402: 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
48-506: The Sait Matty Road. Afrinat International Airlines had its head office in Bakau. 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 multi-purpose Independence Stadium ,
56-522: 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
64-492: The locals) 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 few guest houses. There is also a major market along the main road famous for its fruit and vegetables. Fishing
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