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Ferries

There are no bridges over the River Gambia from north to south
so any crossings have to be made by boat.

There are two vehicle ferries between Barra/Banjul across the wide estuary. It takes about 45 minutes. This can carry perhaps two lorries and a few cars. (2005)
It is not unusual for lorries travelling down the West Coast of Africa
to wait 5 or 6 days to cross here.

In 2006 there was a new and bigger ferry so crossing was a little easier.

If they did not do this where would their route be by road?

As the north road in The Gambia improves it will be the best route to the coast but then travellers have to wait for the ferry.
Most passengers are on foot so can squeeze on to the crowded ferry but even cars may have to wait for hours.
The ferry only runs in the day time and not at low tide.

When the ferry arrives masses of people rush off at great speed carrying all sorts of baggage, much or it balanced on their head.
As the the visitors waited in the queue a large herd of goats scurried off the ferry and milled around,
then cars, vans, and finally lorries.

Next the vehicles have to load on and are packed tight together.
People and animals squeeze into every space.

There are more ferries at points along the river at Basse, Bansang, Janjanbureh, Kau-ur, Kuntaur, Kerewan, and Barra.

Janjanbureh is on Macarthy Island in the middle of the river so when the visitors arrived very late at night they had to catch a small ferry.
Somebody had used their mobile phone to ring them and ask them to wait otherwise they would not have been able to cross that night.

The visiting teachers going to Boraba School or Sare Ngai School to had to use it everyday.


The ferry leaves from the river bank at Sunkulay Kunda	Whenever the engine is out of order	...the passengers pull on the cable to haul it across the river


This cow has to get to Janjanbureh	She needs to be hauled on by passengers	The owner is relieved she is on!


The visitors have crossed from Janjanbureh to Lamin Koto ready to travel back to Barra on the north road.	There are food stalls on the bank	These boats will be used by the locals to cross the river or for fishing

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