The Gambia Travel Forum

Hi, We're off to The Gambia for a week next Friday and I've been trying to figure out how to do an overnight trip to Dakar. Because we're only away for a week it really has to be no more than 2 nights max in Senegal. I found a really good trip with Gambia Tours (http://www.gambiatours.gm/ex_senegal_roundtrip.html) but I've already enquired and they are not able to do the trip while we're there.

I'm thinking of going it alone (well, me & Jonathan) but overland sounds complicated. I also looked into flying but Air Senegal's online reservation system doesn't seem to be working and I think it's really expensive.

Has anyone made this trip recently and can offer advice?

Thanks.

I seem to remember this trip was an offer from the taxi's outside our hotel (Atlantic in Banjul) I cannot remember the price, but at the time we thought it did not sound to bad, however we were put off by the condition of some of the taxi's.
Good luck.

Thanks Ricky... might wait 'til we get there then...

One trouble with Gambia Tours is they advertise the tours, but if not enough people sign up, they cancel them, sometimes on the morning of your departure.

Plus a taxi ride to Dakar would be an adventure in its own right.
A white knuckle ride and a trip all thrown into one. lol

Yeah :o) Think you have to change taxis at the border though...

I may be wrong, but usually I'm not about these things, and I have traveled quite a bit in West Africa, if not in the border between Gambia and Senegal, but I think that you should be able to take a minivan jitney from Banjul to the border, walk across the border for passport stamp, and then take another minivan to Dakar. There likely are also buses. The main question I would have is whether or not you need the visa your passport at the time of arrival at the border. I would go ahead and order one from your local consult just in case the trip works out. Your hotel clerk should be able to help you find the jitney stand. The local name In Ghana was tro-tro, but SeneGambia may have another local term for these, typically a Toyota minivan that departs as soon as all seats are loaded. It will be a good adventure.

No, the taxi will take you all the way there.
Formalities at the border are not very strict, you will need your passport and a biro type pen (this you give to the border guard, seems they like them. lol)takes about 15 minutes to process.

Thanks! 'Bush Taxis' in The Gambia I think... I've read about them in The Lonley Planet & Rough Guide but I've never used anything like them before. Sounds like a 'fun' way to travel! ;o) I'll have to talk to Jonathan and see if he's up for it - he hasn't quite forgiven me for the 15hr bus journey in Turkey yet. Thanks for the heads up on the Visa too.

I made this trip twice, but in the daytime.

From Barra you take a taxi up to the boarder. You don't have to pay for your stamp. There are Minivans to Dakar, but make sure you are not the last person to get in. At the back it is very tight! And the drivers cheat you like nobody's business, even when you travel with Gambians.

If you take a taxi from the Gambia it is more expensive, and there will be a lot of control on your way. So it might be wiser to take a senegalese car. Hope you have a merciful driver - mine didn't even stop wen we had to go to the toilet :-(

The main thing with these "bus taxis" is to relax; maybe try to get the front seats near the driver if you want to take photos, and allow the driver or his assistant to put your gear on the roof rack. You don't want to inconvenience others by clinging to your bags inside the van. Because they are small, security of your belongings is really easy anyway. The driver's are professionals even if there's vehicles appear overworked. Just tell your husband that he's creating transportation "war stories" that he can brag about once back home :-)

That's the most practical advice I have read on VT! Thanks - I'm looking forward to it now :)

What we need now is a photograph of the taxi as it zooms off to Dakar with you clinging on for dear life, holding onto your luggage on the roof rack. (Thinking, “ I should never have listened to those silly buggers on VT”)
Hubby inside the taxi with a goat on his lap and the driver with a demonic smile on his face. Lol

How cheery! Thank you Ricky. I feel much better now. I shan't read this to Jonathan just yet... Perhaps I'll print it out and save it for an uplifting anecdote when we're actually in that situation! ;o)
xx

To be honest, the taxi drivers were quite good.
They did not drive like idiots, probably because some of the taxi's could not take it. lol
We used them nearly every day and had no problems with them whatsoever.

I am only winding you up a little.

You will enjoy The Gambia.

Hehe! - no probs - don't worry - I can take it ;o)

I actually find the judgement of the drivers in West Africa to be remarkably good. The licensing system exists but is probably pretty corrupt. Drivers truly risk a lot for if they wreck the vehicle they're driving because insurance companies and even the law are hardly a factor here. Plus, gas prices are slightly higher than world average (for poorly refined fuels), and they have to drive on some of the world's worst roads, dodging axle deep potholes, which is in part why their vehicles often look so distressed in general.

Many years ago 1983 to be precise we took a boat up the river from Gambia to Senegal, It was an old boat with decks for first, second and third class. We bought the cheap tickets to enjoy the experience with the locals and cattle, but because we were white skinned we were upgraded to first class, which included a buffet, We also got to meet the captain and steer the boat.
Reading all the tips reminded me of this journey and I was wondering if the boats still operates.

the ferry was called "Le Jola" and drowned in 2002, taking almost 1000 passengers to death offshore The Gambia. In Dakar I saw the rescued belongings of those who lost their lives, waiting for family members to pick them. A truly sad sad story!

What a tragedy, How sad.
But thanks for your reply...

I see this is way to late but may help someone else.

I did a trip to dakar from Gambia and it only cost me about £8, paid in the local money. I think I wrote about it in my Gambia travelogue.

You would need to get a cab to the ferry in Banjul. I went early morning about 5.30am. The ferry went about 8am I believe but there is a line so you will want to go early. Before we got on the ferry we struck up a deal with a man who had a space cruiser type vehicle with air conditioning. He agreed to take us for 350 dalasis a seat, so we paid for each person plus one extra seat to spread out and have the car to ourselves.

He took us straight from where the ferry landed in Barra through to Dakar city centre and it took about 8 hours.

If you book with a tour operator you will pay stupid prices. It all depends on how much money you have to spare. I too was in Gambia for a week so was only willing to spend a minimal amount of cash.