Kunta Kinteh Island

Kunta Kinteh Island (formerly James Island) sits in the Gambia River and is a UNESCO World Heritage site recognised for its role in the transatlantic slave trade. The island contains the remains of colonial-era forts and trading posts used between the 17th and 19th centuries.

European powers established trading posts on the island in the 17th century; control changed hands several times among Portuguese, Dutch, French and British interests as the Atlantic slave trade expanded. The island fell out of use after the 19th century and its remains became the focus of archaeological research and heritage protection, culminating in UNESCO inscription in 2003.

The island sits in the lower Gambia River near riverbank villages such as Albreda and Jufureh, a short boat ride upstream from the river mouth at the Atlantic coast.

• Access: Access is by small boat from the riverbank villages; trips are short and local guides commonly combine island visits with tours of nearby Albreda and Jufureh.
• Significance: The island is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its testimony to the Atlantic slave trade; visitors should allow time to see onshore interpretation centres that contextualise the ruins.

What to See #

• Fort James ruins: Ruins of Fort James and other fortifications dating to the colonial period lie on the island and are the primary archaeological features preserved there.
• Archaeological remains: Scattered archaeological remains include foundations, fragments of walls and imported trade goods that document the site's role in transatlantic trade networks.
• Nearby museum and interpretation sites: Nearby mainland villages such as Albreda and Jufureh host related museum displays and historical markers that interpret the island's role in the slave trade.