Kunta Kinteh Island

Kunta Kinteh Island, formerly known as James Island and St Andrew's Island, is a Gambia River island. Kunta Kinteh Island is a tiny island off the coast of Gambia, where the Gambia River meets the Atlantic Ocean. Because of its placement in the center of the river, it was an ideal location for controlling the canal. It was one of the first cultural interaction zones between Africa and Europe, since it was visited by explorers and traders looking for a maritime passage to India. By 1456, Portugal had purchased the island from local lords, and building of a fort had begun.

The island is home to Fort James and is one of the most famous historical sites in Gambia. Albreda, on the river's northern bank, is less than 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) away. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with adjacent sites such as a ruined Portuguese chapel and a colonial storehouse in Albreda, the Maurel Frères Building in Juffureh, and Fort Bullen and Six-Gun Battery near the entrance of the Gambia River.

Fort James is now in ruins. However, you may still get a feel of the place's history and envision what it must have been like in the past. Fort James, which was built in the mid-seventeenth century, kept numerous slaves while they awaited ships to carry them to the Americas. As a result, the fort is still a significant historical site and landmark. The fort has been possessed by the British, the French, and the Dutch at various points during its violent history.

Open hours: daily
Address: James Island, The Gambia, GM, Africa