Fajara
| Fajara | |
|---|---|
|
Beach at Fajara | |
  Fajara Location in the Gambia | |
| Coordinates: 13°28′12″N 16°41′47″W / 13.47000°N 16.69639°WCoordinates: 13°28′12″N 16°41′47″W / 13.47000°N 16.69639°W | |
| Country | The Gambia |
| Division | Banjul |
Fajara is a coastal suburb of Bakau in the Gambia.
It is home to the Vice President Isatou Njie Saidy, the US Ambassador, and former Gambian president Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara.[1] The Medical Research Council is located within a fenced complex on Atlantic Boulevard. The MRC has a long history in the Gambia and is a leading global centre of excellence in vaccine, malaria, other infectious disease, nutrition and child health research.[2] There is also a large military camp.
Tourism
Prior to the arrival of the first tourists in the 1960s the inhabitants' living revolved largely around fishing. Fajara is, however, becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination with around 20 hotel complexes on the beach and many more inland.[3]
Bertil Harding Highway is one of the town's main thoroughfares, named after the pioneering Swedish tourist who arrived in 1965.
Notable people
- Isatou Njie Saidy
- Dawda Jawara
- Momodou Baboucarr Njie
- Amadou Samba
- Julia Dolly Joiner