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Sunday 16 January, visit to the fishing town of Tanje
Gambia and Senegal 2005 - part IX
Elisabeth & Teije2006-08-26 18:11:49
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At breakfast we discuss what we will do today, since we have no plans and, in fact, no idea. We haven't been to the crocodile pond Katchikally at Bakau yet, but we have heard from several people that it is not really worthwhile and we have already seen crocs at the Abuko national park. A visit to Tanje (also spelled Tanji) is a possibilty, a fishing port to the south.
Berend and Agnes have the same problem deciding what they are going to do, so we decide to take a taxi together to go to Tanje, but this time we want an open jeep. While we are still bargaining a jeep is arranged already and arrives at the hotel a few minutes later. This time we agree to a price of 400 Dalasi while the driver will wait for us as long as we want. Our driver barely speaks any English, something we haven't encountered often yet. Most people, at least those who work with tourists, speak English. It is also the official language of The Gambia, but naturally only people who have attended school speak it.
After half an hour driving on dusty roads we arrive at Tanje. On the edge of the village we see dozens of refrigerators, without electricity, with numbers written on them. Here the fish is conserved in large ice cubes.
People of the Wolof tribe live here and the biggest part of the male population is fisherman. At night they sail onto the ocean and are welcomed in the morning by the women who carry the catch onto the beach. We have heard that is quite a spectacle, since they are all running into the water to be the first to get hold of the catch, but then you have to be here very early, between 7 and 8. Now all the boats lie tied up before the coast.
On the beach we sea several women with piles of fish that need to be cleaned and are gathered in baskets. They don't seem to be bothered by us, walking by and looking at them, but we are quickly noticed by the children of the village.
And soon we are surrounded by a group of shrieking
...
See photographs from:
Gambia Gallery
