Butterfly

Kiang West National Park, The Gambia, 2006

A butterfly sips nectar from flowers growing along the banks of the Gambia River. Most travelers visit The Gambia for the beachside resorts that dot the Atlantic coast near Banjul. But The Gambia is much more than white sand beaches. This photo was taken during a trip up the Gambia River to Tendaba to explore Kiang West National Park. A little further from the beaten path, Kiang West is home to a diverse mix of African wildlife including leopards, hyenas, bateleurs, pythons, and sitatunga. It's a seldom visited side of The Gambia, yet it's the side we tend to remember most.