The National Botanic Garden in Bakau: Discover The Gambia’s Hidden Green Treasure

Tucked away in Bakau, not far from the busy streets and beaches of The Gambia’s Atlantic coast, the National Botanic Garden offers something quite different: a chance to slow down, look closely and discover the remarkable variety of plants that grow in this small West African country.

I visited the gardens in 2013 and 2014, taking photographs of the trees, flowers and medicinal plants. On one of those visits, Mark Chidler filmed Bernard, the enthusiastic head gardener, introducing us to some of the plants he knew so well. His video remains at the heart of this article.

A quieter side of Bakau

Bakau is often associated with its fishing harbour, beach and the well-known Kachikally crocodile pool. The National Botanic Garden is a more easily overlooked attraction. Yet beyond its modest entrance is a fascinating collection of plants, from familiar fruit trees to striking flowers and species valued in local traditions.

The gardens date back to the colonial period and are commonly described as having been established in 1924. Their significance goes beyond tourism: a botanical garden can help people identify plants, understand how they are used and appreciate why protecting biodiversity matters. The photographs here document what we saw during our visits in 2013 and 2014, rather than representing a survey of the garden today.

Flowers, foliage and fruit

One of the pleasures of walking through a botanical garden is noticing how much diversity can be found in the details: the shape of a leaf, the arrangement of fruit under a canopy, or a flower that looks almost too intricately patterned to be real.

Papayas are a familiar sight in Gambian gardens and compounds, while ornamental plants such as bougainvillea bring bold colour to walls and pathways. Other plants demand a closer look. Some are delicate, some architectural, and others—like the heavily armed tree trunk pictured below—make a compelling case for keeping your hands to yourself.

Inside the medicinal garden

One of the most memorable parts of the visit was the area devoted to medicinal plants. Across The Gambia and much of West Africa, knowledge about the traditional uses of leaves, roots, bark and other plant materials has been passed between generations. A medicinal garden gives visitors an opportunity to learn about that cultural and botanical history.

Traditional use, of course, is not the same as scientific proof that a plant safely treats a particular condition. Identifying the right species, understanding possible toxicity and protecting threatened plants all matter. The value of a garden like this is in preserving knowledge while encouraging curiosity and careful study.

Bernard showed us aloe vera, widely recognised for the gel inside its fleshy leaves. In the nursery area, I also photographed young plants growing in reused bags and containers: a practical glimpse of how plants can be raised before being established elsewhere.

Meet Bernard: our original garden video

The real highlight of my 2014 post was Bernard himself. Rather than presenting a silent collection of plants, he brought them to life with his explanations and enthusiasm. Mark Chidler wrote at the time that he was ‘a star in the making’—and watching the film again, it is easy to see why.

Video filmed by Mark Chidler during our visits to the National Botanic Garden and originally published here in June 2014.

A garden worth remembering

There is something reassuring about a place where people take time to grow things, label them, share what they know and invite others to look closer. The garden’s wooden entrance, with its carved floral patterns, seems an appropriate final image for a visit that was full of interesting little discoveries.

If you are exploring Bakau, the National Botanic Garden is worth knowing about. Because facilities, access arrangements and opening hours can change, check locally before setting out rather than relying on old visiting information.

For more ideas beyond the usual tourist stops, visit our Discover The Gambia collection. You may also enjoy our article on traditional medicine and healing in The Gambia.

Editor’s note: This article was expanded in 2026 from a short video post first published on 2 June 2014. The photographs were taken in 2013 and 2014; the bougainvillea image is from 2014. The video and readers’ original comments have been preserved.