Gambia
Great beaches are the main draw for many visitors to the Gambia. However, there are many other places worth a visit, such as the small capital of Banjul with its unique mixture of shanty buildings, colonial buildings and modern offices, Kiang West National Park for over 300 species of birds, Baboon Island – home of the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Trust or Makasutu Palm Forest on the banks of a beautiful tributary of the River Gambia. Unfortunately, many of the economic benefits of tourism have not found their way to the local people of the Gambia. A number of eco-tourism ventures are trying to reverse the negative efects of tourism by supporting local communities at the same time as conserving their natural environment.