All the colours of the rainbow flash before my eyes. The sound of the waves, squawking seagulls and housewives’ banter assault my ears. The smell of fish fills my nostrils and the taste of salt is on my tongue, as I head for sensory overload at Tanji fish market in The Gambia, West Africa.
Where to look? What to photograph? How to capture this exciting, noisy, smelly, wonderful place?
Visiting a fishing village in The Gambia is included in the Rough Guide book, Make the most of your time on Earth – 1,000 ultimate travel experiences. They refer to the village of Sanyang but what they describe is the fishing village at Tanji. I would rank it as one of Africa’s top bucket list worthy experiences.
Buying fish by the wheelbarrow!
 While some made it clear that they didn’t want to be photographed others were only too happy to pose for my camera.
 Below, a common site in The Gambia as women go about their daily life’s with their little ones strapped to their back.
Visiting a fishing village in The Gambia is included in the Rough Guide book, Make the most of your time on Earth, 1,00 ultimate travel experiences. They refer to the village of Sanyang but what they describe is the fishing village at Tanji.
We are here with Ida, who is selecting the freshest fish at Tanji for us to take back and cook fish benechin, a traditional Gambian dish. You can find the recipe on Monica’s post A Gambian Cooking Class with Ida but for now I’ll leave you with the sights and sounds from the market and the cooking pot at Ida’s. I’m afraid you’ll have to imagine the other senses…
We attended ‘Cooking with Ida’ courtesy of The Gambia Experience and I would highly recommend it. Tanji fishing village is fascinating, the cooking great fun, as well as delicious, and Ida is a delightful and very interesting hostess. You’ll gain a real insight into Gambian culture.
Disclosure: Although I have worked for The Gambia Experience, the sponsor of this trip, since 2005, I will always give you a completely honest opinion throughout my #BlogGambia posts, just as I would any other sponsored trip or review. My only bias, which I hope you will forgive me for, stems from my having fallen in love with The Gambia many years ago.
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So much life and colour, and things to touch your heart too, Kath. 🙂
It’s a photographers dream, other than a lot of people don’t want you taking their photo which is far enough. After all, I think they get tourists turning up there almost every day so it must be a little annoying!
I have been enjoying all of the bloggers’ posts and pictures from the market. I love visiting markets when I travel, and this one looks especially fascinating.
It is! I hope you get to go there one day. I bet the markets in Thailand are fascinating too.
I really like this photographs.
Thank you Otto. That’s much appreciated 🙂
Vibrant and stunning shots Kat! Particularly love the people shots…..the little children and the gorgeous Ida 🙂
Fabulous colours – both the bright vegetables and those amazing outfits.
Amazing post… just the type of place that captures my imagination. Absolutely stimulating:)
I visited here when I was in The Gambia way back. It was just as much an assault on the senses then as it obviously is now. Great photographs.
Cheers Gordon. I doubt it has changed much at all over the years.
Superb photos Kathryn – I especially love the first one. Some much colour and movement 🙂
Thanks Suzanne, there were so many interesting subjects to photograph.