Kunta Kinteh Island

What it is

Kunta Kinteh Island, formerly James Island, is a small island in the Gambia River with the ruins of Fort James. With related sites on the river banks, including Juffureh and Albreda, it forms the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites", inscribed in 2003.

Why people visit

Visitors come to understand the history of the Atlantic slave trade where it happened. Trips usually combine a boat journey on the river with the villages of Juffureh and Albreda on the north bank.

Cultural and historical significance

According to UNESCO, the island and related sites show the main periods of the encounter between Africa and Europe along the river, and are particularly significant for the beginning of the slave trade and its abolition.

The island was renamed after Kunta Kinte, the ancestor traced by author Alex Haley in Roots, whose story is associated with nearby Juffureh.

Before you go

• Most visitors go on a guided day trip, crossing from Banjul to the north bank.
• This is a site of remembrance. Visit respectfully, and leave everything where it is.

We don't publish entrance fees or opening hours because they change. Confirm them locally or with your guide. Last reviewed 26 September 2026.