Abuko National Park

Abuko National park is often referred to as only a nature reserve in Gambia. The park is located south of Abuko town from which the park was named also called Serekunda. Serekunda is also the biggest town in Gambia.

This Gambia National park is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country since it was gazetted in 1968. The Lamin stream flows through the reserves making a lush habitat for birds and wild animals a like. A long the river are a some endemic tree species such as mahogany, oil palm, iroko and many others while other parts of the parka re dotted with savannah grasses and a few woodlands.

Wildlife

There are several species of animals in the park but the most popular sights are primates such as red colobus monkeys, patas monkey, baboon and the black faced vervet monkey. Other animals in the park include hyena, giant turtles, python, cobra, bushbuck, squirrel, sitatunga, duiker skinks, agama lizard, African palm civets, mongoose, galagos, porcupine, rodents, cane rats, crocodiles, monitor lizard and green mamba snake among others.

More than 250 birds are found in the park and some of the popular sights include eagle owl, grey crested Turaco, little green bulbul, yellow chested apalis and African fish eagles among others . Hiking is an excellent way to discover the wide variety of birds and animals in this park. The wet season floods the river stream and attracts thousands of birds for June to October although the best time to see the wild animals is in the dry season when the grass dries and animals congregate along the stream bed.

Hotel and Accommodation

The education centre overlooks the crocodile pool and offers a splendid view of the pool and its surroundings. The centre is a two-storey structure which houses the environmental education programme. Here school children are shown the importance of conserving their environment through posters, displays and audio visual shows.

Some of the hotels near Abuko National park include Kombo beach hotel, Wavecrest Hotel Gambia, Senegambia Beach Hotel and Golden beach hotel among many others.