Updated
October 7, 2001
Gambia
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Star Gazing
The Kairaba hotel in Kololi has a purpose built observatory
Opened in 1994 the largest telescope in West Africa
Computer controlled 10" Meade telescope
Programmed with 10,000 Star objectives
Activities
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Heavens Above
What's is going
on overhead & when.
Impressive new entrance
to the Kairaba, Kololi
Kairaba telescope
- picture from unknown source
As if to prove in spectacular fashion that the hotels in The Gambia really do offer an open doors policy to the guests of other hotels, the Kairaba in Kololi, sister hotel of the Senegambia invites you to its custom built professional observatory.
Check before you make the trip and if it is a overcast evening then the event just doesn't happen but on Tuesdays,Thursdays and Sundays the resident astronomer Mr Stephen Bidwell, offers a spectacular insight into the heavens above Gambia.
Once a Free activity, the hotel now charges for the use of the equipment on the three nights.
I was truly amazed at the night sky over The Gambia and I have never ever seen so many stars, if you have taken binoculars to watch the birds take them with you and be prepared to be awe struck.
Space link with The Gambia
The runway at Banjul airport is so long because it was extended so that if the space shuttle has to abort on take off this is where it would land, a team of Americans arrive here for every shuttle launch and leave as soon as shuttle is safely in orbit. So if the runway is good enough for the shuttle it's good enough for me.
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